I tried the viral “slugging” technique and now I do it nightly

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If I were scrolling through TikTok and came across the trend “slugging,” I would immediately keep scrolling. Sounds gross, not interested, moving along. But one night (after one, ahem, two glasses of red wine), I stayed on the video; it was from TikTok creator Erica Nicole. In the video, she shows a picture of her skin, with text that reads, “From dry, dull, textured skin…” Then, all of a sudden, BAM — a gorgeous, glowing, perfect-skinned Erica is staring at us with the text, “to glass skin by slugging 2-3 times a week!”

I immediately added Vaseline to my Amazon cart.

Slugging, essentially, involves coating a thin layer of Vaseline or another petrolatum-based product on your face — hence the word “slugging.” Vaseline is typically used because it’s an occlusive moisturizer, which means it creates a physical barrier on the skin to lock in hydration and prevent water loss. There are other moisturizers that work for this, too, like Aquaphor Healing Ointment or Cerave Moisturizing Cream.

I have extremely dry skin and decided to give it a try. I “slugged” my skin before bed with Vaseline Cocoa Butter Healing Jelly, and when I woke up, it seemed as though the Vaseline had completely soaked into my skin. I looked hydrated, glowing, and brighter.

After one week, I noticed a difference in my skin’s texture. I’m not sure I can say it was entirely because of the Vaseline, but my breakouts were even starting to vanish.

The term “Slugging” seems to originate from a 2014 post on Reddit. Many online sources claim this technique originated in South Korea, and although it is a well-known tool in K-pop beauty trends, the origin can’t be 100% confirmed. It is also important to note that Black women have been using Vaseline as part of their beauty regimens for generations.

Dr. Whitney Bowe, a board-certified dermatologist, posted a video to TikTok about this viral trend, stating, “Slugging is awesome for some people, but not for others. Slugging is great if you have eczema or if you have really, really dry skin that’s not acne-prone. But if you have acne-prone skin, definitely skip this trend.”

That’s because Vaseline may trap bacteria inside the skin, doing the opposite of what’s intended. According to Dr. Alexis Parcells, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of SUNNIE, “Slugging itself is not comedogenic (acne-causing), but if you have clogged pores or retained makeup, you could create an infection or outbreak by trapping these particles under the occlusive,” she told Elle. “Make sure your skin is SUPER clean before sealing it.”

I rub a dime-sized amount of Vaseline on my skin after my nightly skincare routine, and it definitely has made a difference in my skin’s texture and hydration. It’s also important to note that the Vaseline should be applied very last in your skincare regimen and done 30 minutes before you go to bed to allow the products to seep into the skin.

Have you tried slugging? Did you like it? Let me know in the comments below! ❤️