Is slugging something to do every night?

Use dryness, not the calendar

Slugging means leaving a layer of petroleum jelly on your skin overnight, which gives a simple ointment a surprisingly elaborate job title. The layer reduces water loss and helps your skin barrier repair itself. It is more useful during dry winter months and less necessary in warm, humid weather.1

Choose pure petroleum jelly or an ointment with minimal additional ingredients.1

You can treat dry patches instead

Petroleum jelly can relieve dry skin, including dry lips and eyelids. Dry skin can flake, itch, crack or bleed; ointments are more effective and less irritating than lotions for relieving dryness. If your eyelids are dry and flaky, apply a small amount for moisture and protection. Eyelid skin is particularly thin and easily irritated. Apply petroleum jelly while the skin is damp for the best results.2

How to slug on nights you need it

1. 1Cleanse your face and apply moisturizer.
2. 2Skip alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and retinoids underneath petroleum jelly. Trapping these ingredients can increase irritation.
3. 3Apply a tiny amount of petroleum jelly. You can cover only the driest areas rather than your whole face.
4. 4Wait about 30 minutes before bed, then leave the layer on overnight.
5. 5Wash your face in the morning to remove the residue and anything stuck to it. Choose a cleanser that suits your skin.

You can protect your pillowcase with a towel, because the skincare routine does not need to include the laundry.1

Who should skip slugging?

Avoid putting petroleum jelly on your face if you are prone to acne: it can cause breakouts in some people. Using it to relieve dryness elsewhere is a different decision from coating an acne prone face overnight.2

Skip slugging on oily skin, infected skin or open wounds. If slugging leaves your skin red or irritated, stop and see a dermatologist.1