Slugging: Why This Skincare Trend Works & How to Do It Right

Slugging skincare, y’all—it’s the real deal, but I’m a total mess when it comes to this stuff. I’m in my cramped Boston apartment, it’s like midnight, and I’m staring at this tub of Vaseline like it’s gonna fix my whole life. My skin’s been flakier than my attempts to keep a houseplant alive, and I’m over it. Slugging, if you’re not hip to it yet, is when you slap on petroleum jelly to lock in all your skincare goodies. Sounds easy, right? Yeah, no, I turned it into a full-on catastrophe.

I’m sprawled on my lumpy couch, the radiator’s clanking like it’s possessed, and my phone’s at 3% while I’m scrolling X for slugging skincare tips. My place smells like burnt toast (don’t ask) and that lavender candle I keep forgetting to blow out. First try, I glob on Vaseline like I’m icing a birthday cake. Spoiler: I looked like a greasy donut, and my cat, Muffin, gave me this side-eye like, “Girl, what?” Total fail.

Why Slugging Skincare Actually Kinda Works

Okay, so why’s slugging skincare blowing up? It’s not just some TikTok fad—there’s legit science, or at least that’s what I skimmed while dodging dishes in my sink. Your skin’s like a brick wall, and when it’s dry (hello, Boston winter), it leaks moisture like my old radiator leaks steam. Petroleum jelly seals everything in—your serums, your moisturizer, all that jazz. I read on WebMD that occlusives like Vaseline can cut water loss big time. I’m no derm, but my skin stopped flaking, so I’m sold.

Here’s why I’m low-key obsessed:

• It’s dirt cheap. Like, $3 for a tub that lasts longer than my relationships.
• It’s easy. Slather, sleep, wake up glowy.
• Works for my sensitive skin, which usually hates everything.

But, like, the grease factor? Brutal. I ruined a pillowcase, and Muffin wouldn’t come near me for a week. Rookie mistake.

My Slugging Skincare Fails (Don’t Do This)

Real talk: my first slugging skincare attempt was a dumpster fire. I used, like, half the Vaseline jar, thinking more is better. Nope. Woke up with a zit so big it deserved its own zip code. Also, I didn’t layer right—you gotta put slugging over your other stuff, not just on bare skin. And don’t even try it before a Zoom call. I looked like I’d been dunked in oil when I hopped on with my boss. Cringe.

My worst screw-ups:

1. Too Much Jelly: A thin layer’s enough. I was out here looking like a human slip-n-slide.
2. No Prep: Cleanse, tone, moisturize first. I just went full caveman with the Vaseline.
3. Morning Slugging: Big nope. My hair stuck to my face all day. Gross.

Found some solid advice on Byrdie after my disasters, which helped me not look like a greaseball.

How to Nail Slugging Skincare (My Hard-Won Tips)

After my face became a skating rink, I finally got slugging skincare down. Here’s my routine, straight from my chaotic Boston bathroom:

1. Cleanse Right: I use Cetaphil ‘cause it’s gentle and doesn’t make my face scream.
2. Layer Like a Pro: Toner, serum, moisturizer, then a tiny bit of Vaseline. Like, pea-sized, not a handful.
3. Night Only: Slugging in the morning is a recipe for disaster. Trust.
4. Save Your Stuff: Use an old pillowcase unless you want to cry over stains.

My skin’s looking dewy as hell now, like I’m 22 again (I’m def not). Allure has some dope tips I wish I’d read before I started.

My Slugging Skincare Glow (and Side-Eye)

I gotta admit, slugging skincare’s been a game-changer, but I’m still, like, is this too good? My skin’s softer than Muffin’s belly, but I’m paranoid about clogged pores. Healthline swears it’s fine for most skin types, but I’m keeping my eyes peeled. Still, waking up to glowy skin in this dry-ass Boston winter? Can’t complain.

I’m typing this with Vaseline still on my fingers (oops, keyboard’s gross now), and I’m kinda hooked. It’s not perfect—sometimes I miss my bougie creams—but slugging’s cheap, simple, and works. Anyone else slugging like a champ?

Wrapping Up My Slugging Skincare Rant

So, that’s my sloppy, real-as-hell take on slugging skincare. It’s messy, it’s weird, but damn, it works. Don’t be like me and turn your face into a grease trap. Got any slugging stories or tips? Hit me up in the comments—I’m dying to know. Or, like, go try it and tell me how it goes.