It’s around this time each year, as the sun starts to stay out a little later and spring teases us from around the corner, that we get extra antsy for the warm weather and the luminous skin that often comes with it. Fortunately, despite having several weeks left before spring has officially sprung, there are steps you can take now to say goodbye to the dry skin of winter before the seasons change.
One way to do so is with a trend known as “slugging,” which — before you grimace at the term — we must emphasize has nothing to do with those mollusks sans shells. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get into what it really is.
Behind the Trend: Skin Slugging Meaning & Benefits
Simply put, slugging is the method of applying an occlusive as the very last step in your skincare routine to promote and maintain a healthy, hydrated, supple and “glass-like” complexion.
Occlusives, Perricone MD’s Director of Education, Rosalba Martone, shares, “are moisturizing agents that create a physical barrier atop your skin to seal in moisture.” Some common occlusives include petroleum jelly, cocoa butter, beeswax and various oils, all of which can be applied evenly atop cleansed skin following your serum and moisturizer to create that physical barrier for locking in all those powerful ingredients.
While this barrier helps keep the nourishment in your skin, it also helps prevent water from evaporating, further supporting a healthy skin barrier. Since most transepidermal water loss happens at night, particularly while you sleep, slugging before bed is optimal to wake up to ultra-hydrated, baby-soft skin that looks softer, plumper and more radiant.
Does Slugging Clog Pores?
The products you use for skin slugging should always be non-comedogenic (meaning it doesn’t clog pores), however, petroleum jelly — AKA the occlusive commonly shown in all those viral slugging videos — is actually comedogenic (meaning it may clog pores). This is because petroleum, also known as a soft paraben (wax), creates a heavy layer atop the skin, hence why it became the trendy choice for sealing in all the good ingredients applied beneath it. While it does do this, it can also adversely lock in impurities with it and prevent your pores from being able to properly breathe, leading to pore congestion and potential breakouts.
The Best Occlusive for All Skin Types
For this reason, we recommend using a non-comedogenic oil as the last step in your regimen to get the benefits of slugging without having to worry about the potential of clogging your pores. Our Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Chia Oil is powered in part by omega fatty acids from chia seed, macadamia seed and flaxseed oils, which make it the ultimate occlusive. Made in combination with skin-strengthening lipids, this intensely nourishing formula was designed to mimic your skin’s naturally “perfect” lipid ratio of 1:2:1 (ceramides: cholesterol: fatty acids). With this ideal ratio in mind, it helps to replenish the skin’s moisture barrier and ensure skin is deeply and optimally moisturized.
When slugging with our nutrient-rich chia oil, it’s safe to do every night as part of your evening skincare routine (remember: not your morning one or you’ll look greasy throughout the day). It’s especially beneficial for those with sensitive skin conditions to help alleviate dryness, flakiness or redness. Our best advice no matter your skin type? No matter what occlusive you choose, make sure to properly exfoliate and double cleanse before locking everything in.
So, there you have it — slugging is the perfect way to bid adieu to the cold, dry months and ring in the spring with naturally dewy skin.
