Slugging: Overhyped Trend or Legitimate Skin Saver? We Investigated

If you've been anywhere near skincare TikTok or Reddit's SkincareAddiction, you've seen it: people slathering their faces in a thick layer of Vaseline, Aquaphor, or CeraVe Healing Ointment before bed and waking up with plump, glowing skin. They call it slugging — named after the shiny, slug-like appearance your face takes on. But is it just another viral gimmick, or is there real science behind it?

What Is Slugging?

Slugging is the practice of applying a thick layer of an occlusive product — typically petroleum jelly (Vaseline), Aquaphor, or a healing ointment — as the final step of your nighttime skincare routine. The occlusive layer creates a physical seal over your skin that prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL), trapping moisture and your other skincare products against your skin overnight.

The Science Behind Slugging

Here's where things get interesting: the science actually supports it. Petroleum jelly has been used in dermatology for over a century. Studies show it reduces TEWL by up to 98% — far more than any moisturizer or hyaluronic acid serum alone. It's also virtually non-irritating and non-comedogenic (despite its heavy feel, petroleum jelly has a comedogenicity rating of 0).

Dermatologists have been recommending occlusive techniques for patients with eczema, severely dry skin, and damaged skin barriers long before TikTok existed. Slugging is essentially the viral rebranding of a well-established clinical technique.

Who Should Try Slugging?

• Dry and very dry skin types — You'll benefit the most. Slugging supercharges overnight hydration.
• Dehydrated skin — Even if your skin is oily, if it's dehydrated, slugging can help restore water content.
• Damaged moisture barriers — Slugging accelerates barrier repair by creating optimal healing conditions.
• Anyone on retinol/retinoids — Slugging on recovery nights (not retinol nights) helps manage dryness and peeling.

Who Should Avoid Slugging?

• Oily, acne-prone skin — While petroleum jelly itself isn't comedogenic, sealing in excess oil and potentially pore-clogging products can trigger breakouts in acne-prone skin.
• Anyone using strong actives — Do NOT slug on top of retinol, AHA, BHA, or vitamin C. The occlusive seal intensifies these ingredients and can cause irritation or chemical burns.
• Fungal acne sufferers — Petroleum-based products can worsen fungal acne (malassezia folliculitis).

Our Two-Week Slugging Test

We tested slugging on combination skin (not acne-prone, mild dehydration) for 14 consecutive nights using CeraVe Healing Ointment.

Results: Noticeable improvement in skin hydration and overall "plumpness" by day 5. Morning skin felt softer and more supple. The dehydration lines around the eyes were less visible. No breakouts occurred. The downside: sleeping in an ointment is messy. Pillowcases need washing more frequently. And the initial sensation takes getting used to.