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Continue With Google Body Slugging is the Secret to Irresistibly Smooth Skin
One TikTok beauty trend that definitely deserves a crown in 2022 is slugging. This K-Beauty practice involves applying a thin layer of Vaseline after your skincare routine to seal in moisture and leave your skin feeling irresistibly smooth. Even the driest skin types can benefit from slathering their skin in petroleum jelly.
While slugging has usually been reserved for the face, TikTokers are now exploring the benefits of slugging their entire body — aka, body slugging. From their hair to their feet, they’re slathering every inch of themselves in creams, lotions, balms, and ointments in the quest for dreamy soft hair and skin.
Here’s everything you need to know about body slugging, from what it is to how you can do it at home.
WHAT IS BODY SLUGGING?
Body slugging is slugging — all over your body. Never heard of slugging before? It’s the act of layering an occlusive product like petroleum jelly (or any petrolatum-based product) over lotion to lock in hydration and support the skin barrier function. Slugging creates an occlusive seal over your skin, preventing transepidermal water loss and boosting skin’s lipid barrier to prevent future dryness and promote skin repair.
Slugging can be used anywhere on your body besides your face. From your hair to your cuticles to your elbows, you can slug any area of your bod that’s in need of a little extra hydration. According to the derms, this skincare practice can even be effective for those dealing with skin conditions like eczema.
"Before slugging was called 'slugging', dermatologists were advising their eczema-prone patients to do this on their skin, especially the body," says Dr. Fatima Fahs, a Michigan-based board-certified dermatologist. "Occlusive emollients help create a seal and trap moisture underneath them, so it's a great way to hydrate the skin."
BENEFITS OF BODY SLUGGING
There are numerous benefits of slugging skin. It’s especially beneficial for those with dry skin, as it prevents moisture loss and maintains skin’s hydration for long-lasting smoothness.
While it might just sound like another social media beauty fad, this Korean-derived skincare trend works wonders for reversing dryness. The derms say it can even be beneficial for those with sensitive skin, due to its ability to support skin barrier function and ultimately prevent irritation.
If your daily moisturizer isn’t cutting it, consider slugging your body a few times a week to wake up feeling significantly smoother. Over time, when done consistently, your skin will become softer, stronger, and less prone to dryness, making it a go-to technique for thirsty skin.
Body slugging also helps to seal in the active ingredients from your other products. For instance, humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid in your serums and lotions will work harder when an occlusive is applied on top.
HOW TO BODY SLUG
Slugging your body is as simple as slugging your face. However, it is best done in the evening as the last step of your routine so all your products can penetrate as you sleep without being disturbed. Additionally, slugging does leave a greasy film on your skin so it’s definitely more convenient to do it overnight.
To begin, hop in the shower and wash away the day’s impurities with a gentle body cleanser. To enhance the effects of body slugging, add in some gentle exfoliation to buff away dead skin cells and enable products to absorb better. Pat skin dry, and apply a humectant — a hydrating product packed with moisture-attracting ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. Then layer an occlusive on top to lock in the first product. Some good occlusives include Vaseline (petroleum jelly), Cerave Healing Ointment, and Aquaphor Ointment Body Spray.
You can also take it one step further by putting a pair of socks over the occlusive — if you’re slugging your feet, that is. This will trap body heat and allow the product to absorb overnight. You can do the same with your hands, sliding on a pair of gloves to boost the effectiveness of your products. Gloves and socks also prevent product from rubbing off your sheets, making the process a little less messy.
WHO ISN’T BODY SLUGGING FOR?
Body slugging can work wonders for dry and sensitive skin types. Got oily or acne-prone skin? You might wanna skip this skincare trend.
Since the act of slugging involves applying heavy creams and ointments, they can clog your pores, leading to further breakouts. If you still want to try body slugging, opt for non-comedogenic ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides.
BEST BODY SLUGGING PRODUCTS
Here are some of our fave skincare products for slugging your entire body.
Hydrate Serum
A flash-absorbing, glow-enhancing elixir of hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to plump out fine lines, improve tissue regeneration, and drench dry skin in lasting moisture. This formula also aids in boosting skin’s brightness while preventing hyperpigmentation and rough patches. Bonus: you can apply it on both your face and body.
Smooth Serum
A silky, rejuvenating body serum that’s powered by anti-aging ingredients strawberry and niacinamide to fight fine line formation and sagging skin while shielding skin against UV damage. Smooth Body Serum is the go-to formula for intense hydration. It’ll leave skin feeling instantly softer — and smelling just like strawberry shortcake. Yum!
Hydrate Body Butter
A buttery, intensely hydrating moisturizer that blends the restorative properties of shea butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E, and coconut for day-long dewiness. Hydrate Body Butter is luxuriously rich and hydrating without leaving behind greasy residue. You can use it all over your body for long-lasting softness. It also soothes sore, irritated skin.
TikTokers are slugging everything in sight — their face, hair, nails, hands, and everywhere else. It’s not hard to see why. Slugging is an effective method for relieving dry, irritated skin while strengthening skin barrier function for enhanced skin health.
If you want to wake up tomorrow morning with irresistibly smooth skin, slug your body this evening right before going to bed. By the AM, your skin will be petal soft!