Healthy skin. There are so many options, so many products, so many trends. It’s hard to differentiate.
You hear slugs, you probably are immediately grossed out. We wish it weren’t called this, but the popular k-beauty trend has slid its way across the globe with its mucous covered madness and dry skin sufferers couldn’t be happier about it.
Yes, we are going to tell you all about this fabulous world of slugging, but buckle up, it might sound a little weird.
What Is Slugging
So, what in the actual world is slugging? No, it doesn’t involve this method of building a moisture barrier on the face involves coating it with a petroleum-based product (so, Vaseline) to form a seal that prevents water loss.
This method of skincare allows for skin to repair itself without any outside elements impacting the process. Vaseline actually contains triple-purified petroleum which serves as a hyper-charged facial mask and perfect for those with dry skin, or people dealing with aging effects.
Why Use This Method
As we age, our skin naturally loses its moisture and ability to contain it (we know, it sucks). This results in wrinkles, sagging skin, and obvious lines. Slugging ensures the water content stays in to induce the plumpness of the skin.
Better yet, there are no dyes, additives, fragrances, or other weird chemicals to cause irritation. This makes it safe for those dealing with eczema or people with sensitive skin.
Is It For Everyone?
The oily-faced friends out there might be thinking “yuck! Why would I add more grease to my face!?” and for you all, just use it on the dry patches on your face – if you even have any. If not, don’t worry about slugging! It’s not necessary for everyone.
In fact, if your skin is uber oily all over, just sit this one out my friends, and leave it to your dry skin compadres to reap the benefits.
Best For Dry Skin
If you are a dry-skinned type of person, the slug life may be for you. Yes, it’s awesomely gross. Yes, your skin will be super soft. Yes, it’s a little messy and your hair might get stuck to your face and you might get Vaseline all over your pillow. Yes, it will take one, maybe two face wash acts to get it all off.
And here’s the kicker – you may not realize immediate results. Everyone has different skin types, so it may differ from one person to the next, however, the point is to stay patient. Give your skin a little time to accept this moisturizing blessing.
Sleep It Off
Sayyy what? Yes, you just slept with a coating of Vaseline all over your face and it may have been a little awkward, but Vaseline is an emollient so give it time to penetrate the skin and let it go to work. If you are worried about breakouts or clogged pores, forget about it.
If your skin is dry it is going to welcome the gloppy seal for an overnight stay. Vaseline can, set up the tent, roll out the sleeping bag, and get comfortable.
Vaseline
Let’s back up and discuss Vaseline for a moment. Vaseline was created in the 1960s by a chemist from New York who discovered petroleum jelly. It was once a residue called “rod wax,” which he found in Titusville, Pennsylvania.
He then took it back home to market it for medical purposes as he discovered how beneficial it was for multiple reasons. Originally meant to be a lubricant, Vaseline proved to have moisturizing capabilities. So good ol’ Vaseline, your mother’s cupboard trick, it had a future.
How To
So how to slug? The process is so simple. You just go over your nightly skincare routine and then bust open the Vaseline and get crazy. Literally, just smear it all over your face (avoid the eyes, though). But if you want a step-by-step process, we are happy to break it down.
- Start Normal Night Routine:
Begin as you normally would with your nightly routine(or if you don’t have one, now is a good time to develop one), and remove makeup with your trusty makeup remover, or your kitchen coconut oil.
- Lather Face In Circular Motions:
Grab your favorite cleanser and gently lather your face in small circular motions (working upward). Our favorite is Adonia Organics Daily Cleansing Gel.
- Rinse Thoroughly:
Rinse the yucky day (and the dead skin cells, the dirt, the leftover makeup) off your face, thoroughly.
- Use Toner To Smooth:
Use a toner or an astringent – trust us, it makes all the difference. Just saturate a cotton pad, or a cotton round and smooth over the entire face (clear of eyes, of course).
- Exfoliate:
If it’s an exfoliation night, now is the time baby. (Please don’t do this every night). Grind those little particles with just enough pressure to loosen up any dead skin cells that are still hanging on for dear life.
- Rinse:
Rinse that grainy feeling off. (It’s going to feel so good!). Towel your face by blotting the skin,
- Splash With Cold Water:
Close those pores! Give your face a few splashes of cold water to help minimize all those pores you just messed with.
- Use Retinol:
Got retinol? If not, you should! Retinoids reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen production. Retinoids also stimulate the production of blood vessels, which can improve skin color.
You can also fade dark spots and target any rough patches of skin. Can you tell we love retinol? We do.
- Moisturize:
Next up, moisturizer! Whichever suits your skin, apply all over your face, with an upward motion. Give your moisturizer a few moments to sink in.
- Apply Vaseline:
Are you ready? Glop it on. Seriously, just dig into your Vaseline jar and pull out a healthy amount of good and start covering your face with it. It’s going to feel weird, but you’ve already committed, so you may as well keep going. Cover your entire face, and your neck if you want to!
- Sleep On Your Back:
Ready for bed? If you are a stomach or side sleeper (no judgment), this is going to be a little rough. You are going to have to commit to a night of sleeping on your back unless you want to wipe off all the slug as you roll and rest. And it’s better for you to sleep on your back, so maybe this will start a new habit for you!
- Done:
Wake up, lightly tap your baby soft skin, and thank k-beauty for the slugging trend! You should feel like the queen you are.
Afterward
You may be thinking, “will I wake up slimy?” The answer: nope! No snail slime feeling, no greasy residue. Even if you splash water on your face, you might find that it will just roll off your pleasantly plump face.
Those cherub looking cheeks will be something of a delight as you proceed with your morning beauty routine. Your dry skin has been waiting to come back to life.
When you see the results of slugging, you will have realized it’s the icky name that caused you to try it, but if you are a dry-skinned beauty, give it a whirl.
Conclusion
So now that you’re in the know about slugging, will you try it out? Let us know on the Organic Beauty Report Facebook Page. We know your organic options are preferred and we are happy to provide them.
