What is slugging in skincare?

What does slugging actually do?

Petroleum jelly, also called petrolatum, is a widely used moisturizer. It acts as an occlusive: a coating that reduces water evaporation from the outermost layer of skin. Keeping that water in helps reduce dryness and supports the skin barrier, the outer layer that protects your skin.34

Moisturizers can do several jobs. Humectants, such as glycerine, attract and retain water. Emollients soften and smooth the skin by filling cracks in its outer layer. Occlusives help hold moisture in. Slugging emphasizes that last job, so apply your moisturizer first rather than treating the final coating as the whole routine.14

Who should try slugging?

Slugging is most useful for dry skin, especially during cold, low humidity weather. You can cover dry areas rather than your whole face. Skip facial slugging if your skin is oily, acne prone or infected.1

Dry skin can feel rough or tight, particularly after washing, and can flake, itch or crack. Cold air, heating, air conditioning, frequent washing and long, hot showers can all contribute. A coating at bedtime helps retain moisture, but reducing those drying exposures matters too.5

What should you use?

Choose pure petroleum jelly or an ointment with minimal additional ingredients. Slugging needs no special product, despite having a name that sounds ready for its own checkout page.1

Ointments are more occlusive than creams and lotions and give longer lasting protection, but they feel greasier. Creams are lighter and suitable for broader application; lotions suit mild dryness. If a greasy coating is more than you want, a cream or ointment used as your regular moisturizer can still help dry skin.4

For dry, sensitive facial skin, choose fragrance free products. Unscented is not the same thing: an unscented product can still contain irritating fragrance chemicals. Moisturizers with ceramides or hyaluronic acid are options for adding moisture beneath the final coating.6

How to slug your skin at night

1. 1Wash gently. Use a gentle cleanser and warm rather than hot water. Avoid scrubbing, then pat your skin dry.
2. 2Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Moisturizers work best this way because they help hold that moisture in.
3. 3Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly as the final layer. Keep the coating thin and cover only the dry areas if the rest of your face does not need it.
4. 4Allow about 30 minutes before bed for the products to settle, then leave the coating on overnight.
5. 5Wash your face in the morning to remove the coating and anything that has stuck to it. Choose a cleanser suited to dry or sensitive skin.

A towel over your pillowcase can protect it from the coating, since the pillow did not volunteer for the skincare routine.1

Can you slug over retinol or exfoliating acids?

Avoid trapping retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids beneath petroleum jelly because this can increase irritation. That includes retinoid treatments prescribed for your skin. Do not add slugging over those treatments without checking with the prescriber.1

Exfoliating is not a necessary preparation step. Trying to remove dry flakes can strip away more skin than intended and create further damage. For dry facial skin, gentle washing and moisturizing are more useful than repeatedly scrubbing the flakes away.6

How often should you slug?

Use slugging when your skin feels dry rather than making it an automatic nightly habit. A couple of consecutive nights can help, but nightly slugging is rarely necessary. It is generally more useful in dry winter weather than in warm, humid conditions.1

Regular moisturizing is separate from occasional slugging. For dry skin, apply moisturizer two to three times daily or as needed, especially after washing. Keep baths and showers warm and brief, around five to ten minutes, rather than trying to compensate for long, hot showers with a heavier coating later.5

What results should you expect?

The useful result is less dryness and a more comfortable, better protected skin barrier. With effective dry skin care, improvement commonly appears within two weeks. Treat that as a timeframe for the whole dry skin routine, not a promise that one night of slugging will fix persistent dryness.7

Can you use petroleum jelly on lips and eyelids?

Petroleum jelly can relieve dry lips and eyelids without coating the whole face. Eyelid skin is particularly thin and easily irritated. Apply a small amount to dry, flaky eyelid skin for moisture and protection, and apply petroleum jelly to damp skin for best results.2

When should you stop or see a doctor?

• Stop or limit facial slugging if pimples develop.
• Stop using a product if it causes an allergic skin reaction. Occlusive moisturizers can also aggravate acne or folliculitis, inflammation around hair follicles.
• See a dermatologist if slugging leaves your skin red or irritated.
• Seek medical advice if dryness worsens, persists despite care, interrupts sleep or leads to open sores from scratching.
• Have persistent pink patches or wet, red areas assessed rather than repeatedly covering them with ointment.

Do not treat an open wound as an area for cosmetic slugging. Petroleum jelly does have a separate role in caring for minor cuts and scrapes: keeping a cleaned wound moist helps healing, with daily cleaning still required. Infected skin needs a different approach.12

Keep clothing and bedding carrying paraffin containing ointment residue away from cigarettes and naked flames. Ignited residue can cause dangerous burns.4