December 1, 2020 

“Let’s get one thing out of the way first: slugging skin care does not, in fact, involve actual slugs. That being said, the K-beauty trend did get its name from the idea of going to bed mucus-covered, slug style,” explains Shape. “Don’t worry, there’s no mucus involved, either. Instead, this buzzed-about trend is essentially a very simple moisturizing technique.”

For consumers always on the lookout for the next big skincare trend, slugging is a fun, effective way to improve hydration and boost glow. But, for the absolute best results, prepping the skin with glycolic acid before slugging can help maximize dewiness and reveal the softest, smoothest skin possible.

Slugging is the act of coating the face in a petroleum based skincare product overnight. The skincare method is named for the way the face appears to be covered in slug slime afterwards.  

Popularized on Reddit’s “Skincare Addiction” forum, slugging is a skincare method originally from South Korea.  The trendy skincare step is designed to help lock in moisture and create more hydrated, glowing skin.

Proponents of slugging like to use the petroleum based product as a final step in a nightly skincare routine. The petroleum based product helps to seal in other formulations and is less likely to disrupt other products, as compared to a cold cream.

“The thinking is that during the dry winter months (or year-round, if you have thirsty skin), you want to lock in as much moisture as possible. So while your current routine may be hydrating, topping it with a jelly creates a barrier that traps in moisture and helps the formulas sink in even more,” explains Glamour.

Dermatologists and skincare aficionados alike espouse the benefits of slugging for improving dry skin or rough texture.

The petroleum based product acts as an occlusive and helps to prevent trans epidermal water loss from the facial skin. As a result of slugging, skin often looks softer, smoother, and more moisturized in the morning.

“With aging comes decreased barrier repair, decreased hydration, saggy skin, and more obvious wrinkles. Slugging essentially acts as a buoy to the barrier, keeping water locked in and the skin plumped,” Mona Gohara, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, said to Shape.

However, to reap the ultimate benefits of the slugging trend, prior exfoliation is key. In particular, chemical exfoliation with workhorse ingredient glycolic acid can help reveal the softest, smoothest skin possible after a slugging session.

In order to achieve soft, smooth skin with slugging, gentle exfoliation with glycolic acid beforehand can help yield more optimal results. 

To start, chemical exfoliant glycolic acid sloughs away the dead, dry skin cells on the surface of the skin. Glycolic acid performs this fast, effective exfoliation by dissolving the bonds that hold cells together. By shedding off damaged skin cells, glycolic acid prepares the skin for better slugging in two key ways.

First, by shedding off old skin cells, glycolic acid ensures the slugging product will best hydrate the skin. 

“Exfoliation helps serums and moisturizers penetrate deeper into the skin.  When something that’s rich in nourishing ingredients penetrates deeper, it’s able to work more effectively,” dermatologist Lily Talakoub, MD, told Eccotique.

By removing dry skin from the surface of the face, glycolic acid essentially readies the skin for the big boost of hydration a slugging session can offer.

Secondly, glycolic acid helps to maximize the slugging process by smoothing out skin texture. By shedding off rough skin cells, glycolic acid helps to even out skin tone and create the ultra-soft complexion “sluggers” seek out.

In addition to evening out skin texture, glycolic acid also helps to improve the skin’s moisture barrier. A strong, healthy moisture barrier can better lock in moisture and will more quickly and visibly highlight the benefits of slugging.

For consumers with dry skin, the slugging trend could help create more hydrated, dewy skin. To maximize results, chemical exfoliation with glycolic acid prior to slugging could provide the perfect pathway to a silky smooth, extra-soft complexion.

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