Expert Advice on Slugging Your Skin

A simple search of the word “slugging” will undoubtedly yield some interesting and even contradictory results. Influencers swear by it. People regularly rave that their grandma, who doesn’t look a day over 20, has been doing it for years. It is a trend promoted widely on social media.

Slugging is basically slathering an occlusive agent, like Vaseline, all over your face as the last step of your beauty regimen. I can get the allure behind this: if your barrier sucks then, yeah, you’d benefit from a new one. So, this trend has credibility!

But there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Let’s take a look at all of the factors to make sure you don’t wind up causing more harm than good in your attempt to resemble a glazed donut, shall we? 

What does occluding the skin mean?

Occlusion is when we cover the skin directly with impermeable films and substances. This could be anything from a bandage to a substance such as petrolatum (Vaseline) or paraffin.  Occlusion aids in the penetration of certain molecules into your skin which is what makes sheet masks more than just a fun gimmick. Those popular rubber and alginate masks used in the treatment room also function this way.

The viscosity or thickness of a skincare product doesn't necessarily correlate to its function in this case. Just because a product is thick, doesn't mean it is occlusive.

An example of this is silicones in cosmetics. While a true occlusive will create an impermeable barrier, silicones actually create a water-resistant, yet permeable film. Occlusives will obstruct the normal ventilation of the skin surface, which is why many reference suffocating the skin when talking about occlusives. Silicones create a barrier that is vapor permeable and breathable.

In a 2014 comparison of silicone and petrolatum, the levels of water lost through the skin, known as transepidermal water loss, was measured in 26 healthy individuals. Both petrolatum and silicones significantly decreased this water loss 15 minutes after application, but the tested silicones did not moisturize the skin. Petrolatum formed an occlusive layer, creating an increase in skin hydration that lasted for more than 4 hours.

These results would lead many to hop aboard the slugging train, but let’s take a deeper look. 

So what can we do?

When the skin is in a state of crisis it can be beneficial to use something like this. But what qualifies as a state crisis where the skin is concerned?

It’s not always what you would think.

As an esthetician who works with a lot of skin throughout the day, I see a variety of different concerns. Many people think they struggle with one thing when that really isn’t the case.

When the skin barrier is impaired it is often far simpler to repair it using the basic supporting tools of skin barrier repair outlined in our Barrier Repair Blog. However, not everyone responds or repairs in the same way. This is why I work side by side with clients. I request daily correspondence through the first couple of weeks as we repair the skin and, if we begin to see red flags, I am quickly able to redirect treatment.

One such red flag would be the continued feeling of discomfort. Roccoco’s Pore Cleansing Oil and Rescue Balm (for acne prone skin) or Hale and Hush’s Vital Lipid Lotion (for mature non acne prone skin), are the first products I always recommend leaning on. They are specifically designed to calm the skin and repair the skin barrier by using skin identical lipids and not by occluding the skin.

In certain cases however, particularly in cases where aggressive acne treatments have been used in the past, the skin simply won’t tolerate much. In rare but extremely severe cases, even water can be painful to apply. It is in those situations only that you will want to lean on an occlusive for support. The trick is to not allow it to become a long term treatment. 2-3 nights of occlusion is the most you want to allow. 

Substances which occlude can help with the health of the skin barrier, especially when the skin is in a state of crisis. But ultimately there is only a partial restoration of barrier function. These non physiological substances do not support natural actions within the skin. They do not encourage the production of crucial components within the skin barrier. In fact, they do the opposite.

These solid substances melt at body temperature and fuse into the spaces where our natural lipids are meant to reside and function. It is this action which impedes barrier health. This means that, yes; the immediate use of your Vaseline can help to reduce water lost through the skin. It can even partially help with skin barrier recovery.

However, continued use of the substance as part of your nightly regimen can do the exact opposite of what you are hoping to achieve.

The Process

In healthy individuals with adequate sleep schedules, the skin barrier is at its cyclical healthiest point in the mornings. This means that introduction of any new products should be done then and not at night.

Starting off slow with your Pore Cleansing Oil and eventually adding in your moisturizer, only as the skin shows it can tolerate it, is crucial to success in these “crisis” situations. Furthermore, using something like Vaseline can help prevent that excessive moisture loss, but past a few days, it provides zero value to the skin.

It is for this reason that my occlusive of choice is AnteAGE’s Biogel. This innovative occlusive does not contain a base of petrolatum but rather a base made up of lipids which actually support barrier repair within the skin. While it still functions as an occlusive, bio identical lipids allow it to have more beneficial functionality with properly functioning skin being an end result of use. Even with this support, occlusion is not something the skin wants or needs long term so using this on a very temporary basis is still recommended.  

Another great way to support your skin barrier is by ensuring you aren't causing more harm than good merely by cleansing your skin.  The job of the skin barrier is to protect you and keep external pathogens out, but with over 320 known contaminants which can sometimes be found in our water, it can affect the health of that skin barrier, preventing it from doing its job and allowing these contaminants to affect our skin in a negative way. Dozens of studies have shown that tap water can dehydrate and damage skin, especially your face which is inherently more sensitive but also exposed to water more with regular washes.  I personally recommend the use of a highly effective water filter such as the Filterbaby system which has been clinically tested and shown to remove 99% of physical contaminants to improve skin hydration in just 2 weeks.  Use the code SKINANDBAREIT for 5% off.

After the Crisis

Once the skin barrier has been repaired, you may still be looking for something extra. A botanical alternative to petroleum based products is going to be pomegranate sterols. Unlike petroleum jelly, pomegranate sterols can actually closely mimic cholesterol, a crucial part of our skin barrier that supports overall skin health. It is the reason the Biogel works so well.  A hydrating spray which can also support the skin's microbiome and subsequently the skin barrier is Anna Lotan's Moisture Splash.

These phytosterols are also found in Roccoco’s CPR cream. This product offers more barrier support than repair however and should only be used once the skin has regained adequate skin barrier function.  I personally recommend using it a few times a week at night on top of your regular moisturizer - the same way you would do if you were to practice "slugging." 

Ultimately, there are many reasons why our barrier can suffer. As mentioned, our barrier is naturally weaker at the end of the day vs the beginning of the day. It is weaker during menstruation.  External and internal elements can cause it to falter. Exposure to sun or wind, even stress and diet can have an effect. Using barrier protective products, such as Roccoco’s Peptide Serum and Peptide Finisher which are applied last in your regimen, can ensure your skin barrier remains healthy. In addition to their own beneficial ingredients, both of these products act as ingredient enhancers. They increase the benefits from other products/ingredients used on the skin underneath them.  Most of the products I recommend as an esthetician work on specific issues but are also formulated to specifically support, repair and/or protect the skin barrier.  It is something necessary in all skincare, not just during that time of crisis, but to prevent a crisis from occuring in the first place. 

 

About the Author:

Dru Pattan is a Licensed Esthetician who specializes in acne while taking a skin healthy approach to sustainably healthy skin known as Corneotherapy. She believes that we don't need to beat the skin into submission to make it comply. By monitoring the skin's needs and offering nourishment we are able to heal common ailments which can often seem lifelong and defeating.

Dru has been licensed since 2014 and has spent the majority of that time relentlessly hunting down advanced education within the industry. When she herself is not studying, she is offering education and support to clients and other professionals within the industry.