Itchy skin is the worst, whether from bug bites or dryness. Learn how to take care of itchy skin here.
Slugging 101: How to Keep Your Skin Extra Moisturized
What is slugging?
Depending on skin types, or depending on other things like environmental ones, the skin may need just a little help to hang on to its moisture. That’s where slugging comes in. Slugging, according to Dr. Rabach, is when you coat your face and neck with a small amount of petroleum jelly. “[The petroleum jelly] acts like a sealant to trap moisture and to prevent water loss from the skin,” she says. The petrolatum serves as a physical skin barrier and enables the underlying skin to regenerate or heal.
While slugging can be a daily skincare step as a part of your nighttime routine, you also can pull out the petrolatum whenever your skin needs that extra boost of hydration. “You’ll see more hydrated skin the next morning,” says Dr. Rabach. “It’s especially great for plumping fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.”
How to Incorporate Slugging Into Your Routine
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to change one lick of your skincare routine to try slugging. “At night, cleanse your face, apply your serums and moisturizers,” says Dr. Rabach. (If you’re in the market for a lightweight yet seriously hydrating moisturizer rec, we are all about the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Line-Plumping Water Cream.) Then, you lock it all in with a petrolatum-based product, such as the CeraVe Healing Ointment.