WTF is... slugging anyway?
No molluscs involved...
So… WTF is it?
Slugging is the process of applying an occlusive to your face as a designated part of your skincare routine.
How do you pronounce it?
Slug-ing. Isn’t learning fun?
What’s the point of it? I mean, what does it actually do?
Slugging is the term that’s been coined for layering an ultra-moisturiser over your skin as the last stage in your nighttime skincare routine to boost hydration and amplify the effects of your skincare.
How does it work?
Occlusives are the thickest of the moisturiser types and provide a seal on top of your skin that traps your other skincare underneath it as well as preventing anything external from penetrating your skin barrier.
Occlusive ingredients are:
Petrolatum
Parrafin
Silicones (often Dimethicone)
Cosmetic Waxes (e.g. beeswax, Carnauba wax)
Cosmetic oils (e.g. castor, coconut, argan, olive, mineral oil etc)
Squalane/(to a lesser extent) squalene
Shea butter
Lanolin
Slugging is typically done at night as the benefits are improved over a period of hours and you’d look pretty shiny if you left the house with your face slugged.
And why would someone want it?
If you have dry or dehydrated skin, this is a great way to perk up sad skin, particularly if you suffer from chaffed skin in winter, or if your skin is dehydrated from spending too much time in aircon.
If it suits your skin and doesn’t block your pores, there’s no downside.
How much is it?
Occlusives tend to be very cheap as they don’t typically contain active ingredients, just thick moisturisers, like petrolatum or paraffin.
The point of them is to enhance the characteristics of the skincare in your routine, not to be ‘active’ themselves.
Vaseline, Albolene, Aquaphor, Nivea and Pond’s are all effective occlusives. More expensive options are available, but I struggle to see why you’d bother paying more.
Does it hurt?
No. It can feel heavy - especially in high-humidity climates -, which you may not appreciate but you only need to apply a very thin layer to achieve the desired result.
Some videos have people slathering an inch thick of product on their faces. This is stupid, will ruin your bedsheets and is a dire waste of product.
Reminder: LESS IS MORE.
Has anyone I would have heard of talked about getting it?
Slugging went viral about a year ago, so a lot of skinfluencers1 and celebs suddenly started referencing it.
Have I had it?
I slugged before slugging even had a NAME, baby.
I used to use Albolene to remove my makeup (in the days before I double-cleansed) and realised that if I applied Albolene when my face was still damp after showering, my eczema improved dramatically. A decade later, I realised why 😂
Would I have it?
I still do it. I re-incorporated into my routine when I introduced retinoids to prevent flaking. So far, so good.
Should you have it?
If you have dry or dehydrated skin, it’s an extremely cheap way to boost hydration, especially in winter or whenever your skin is in need of some TLC.
If you have acne or blemishes/clogged pores are a concern for you, slugging may exacerbate any issues as its thickness is its USP. See how you get on. As long as you only use a thin layer (and anyone should only ever be using a thin layer), it can be really effective for soothing irritated/blemished skin.
If you usually only wash your face at night, you should also wash it on the mornings after you slug, there’s a risk of clogged pores otherwise.
Anything else I think you should know?
Don’t be put off by any teenaged manic screechers2 on TikTok; slugging is a legitimately helpful practice for almost everyone who wants healthy skin.
Don’t get confused between this and snail mucin. The 2 are unrelated.
Disclaimer: ‘WTF is…’ guides are intended to be a 3-5 minute introduction to a topic. They are, by their nature, not exhaustive.
If you have a concern that I’ve irresponsibly included/omitted information, don’t hesitate to get in touch to let me know and I’ll take a look.
Reminder that any cosmetic work undertaken should be in accordance with The 6 rules of cosmetic work. Here they are, in case you missed them the first time…
I hate this word only slightly less than ‘tweakments’
Not to be confused with the Manic Street Preachers