The hashtag has nearly 900 million views on TikTok alone.
The oily top layer locks in moisture so that it can more deeply penetrate the skin while you sleep.
When your skin is irritated, you say OK, Im going to baby you.
Photo Illustration by Amelia Manley for Verywell Health; Getty Images
Thats what slugging isits like a nap for your skin.
Some of the Verywell Health editors tried it out to see if getting slimy is worth the skin gains.
Slugging Can Soften the Skin.
Is It Worth the Mess?
As the name suggests, slugging can leave the face feeling sticky or slimy.
Some influencers slather their face with a layer of occlusive so thick the goopiness is visible.
The first time I tried it, I was like the girls on TikTok.
For the experiment, Michael used CeraVes healing ointment.
But the ointment made her feel slightly claustrophobic, she said, like her skin couldnt breathe.
She said her friends of similar ages swear by slugging.
But within a couple days of her slugging journey, Michael developed a hilariously giant zit.
Its unclear whether the outbreak was related to slugging.
It could be hormonal, she said.
Michael stayed the course anyway, for science, and tried to slug around her outbreak.
Her dermatologist checked out the pimple and confirmed that daily slugging probably wasnt right for her.
For Emma Brink, a senior editor at Verywell Health, the greasiness was uncomfortable.
Brink, 32, said she tends to have dry skin, especially in the winter.
Applying a pea-sized amount of Vaseline atop her typical moisturizer left her skin feeling slippery.
I definitely didnt want to put my face anywhere near my pillow… She washed her pillowcase the next morning.
Despite the off-putting greasy feeling, Brink said her face definitely felt softer than usual the following day.
Stephen Madamba, 33, Verywell Healths research coordinator, said he doesnt typically struggle with skin dryness.
If anything, his skin tends on the oily side.
I think it did make a difference in the way my skin appeared in the morning, Madamba said.
It looked better, like I had not just woken up.
How Does Slugging Actually Work on the Skin?
Doing so is like forcing someone who isnt hungry to eat a six-course meal, she said.
Instead, stick to high quality healing products and give your skin a break from active ingredients.
Should You Slug Every Day?
There is no one skin care fix for everyoneits all about finding whats right for each person.
When ones skin is balanced and healthy, slugging may not be necessary at all.
On a recent ski trip, Rogers slugged her face daily to combat the cold and dry.
People with dry skin may benefit from frequent slugging, especially in the wintertime.
How Can You Choose the Right Product for Slugging?
But in her slugging experience, CeraVe worked just as well.
Some people may feel averse to applying petroleum-based products, like Vaseline, to their face.
But the ingredient is so safe that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends it forbabies with eczema.
Rogers said to beware of trying too many skin care trends too quickly.
Our skin doesnt like to be experimented on, Rogers said.
These TikTok videos and viral things are fun and entertaining, but rarely are they good for our skin.
