We at 48grams decided early on to only use the term "trend" when it's truly appropriate. We don't want to publish fleeting tips here, but rather substantial infotainment that makes life easier, ideally better, for our readers. That's also the point of the topic of "slugging." Declared a trend on social media channels this summer, we say: slugging should be a permanent fixture throughout the winter months.
The technology from South Korea
Anyone who has delved into the topic of skincare – the "science" of facial skincare – will have first encountered the term "slugging" in 2020. Suddenly, numerous European forums picked up on the topic, which was already en vogue among women (and many men) in South Korea, the birthplace of dermatology: sealing the facial skin to prevent evaporation. We will now explain what sounds somewhat absurd and risky.
The slug principle
But first, let's look at the term itself, which of course has nothing to do with a fight – even though the literal translation from English suggests exactly that. Rather, the expression comes from "slug," which means "naked slug" in German. Perhaps the inventor of the treatment could have come up with something more appealing – but they were thinking more practically. The name refers to the shiny film or sticky layer left on the face after the application.
Like cling film for salad
Okay, let's go into detail: Slugging is applied once or twice a week after your evening skincare routine. Only after your face is thoroughly cleansed and creams or serums have been massaged in, is a final, occlusive layer applied. Occlusive is the key word here. This refers to the effect of preventing moisture from evaporating from the skin. Think of it like cling film on a salad. It keeps it fresher. Petrolatum-based products achieve this effect on the face. The most well-known example is certainly commercially available Vaseline.
Always protect your night pillow
The "slugging" mask then stays on the skin overnight – meaning the pillow should ideally be protected with a towel. If you're wondering, "Why all this?" the answer is simple: the sealing technique allows the ingredients in creams and serums to penetrate the skin more effectively – they simply can't escape in any other direction. Retinol and vitamin C, in particular, achieve significantly better results this way.
Especially important and suitable in winter
And that also explains why this method protects the skin particularly well in winter. When the tissue is exposed to the icy cold outside and soon after to the dry indoor air from heating – any form of evaporation is a major disadvantage.
Please do not use if you have acne or blemishes.
Incidentally, this method is suitable for all skin types. Caution is advised only in cases of existing acne or numerous blemishes; slugging could worsen these problems. Furthermore, it's not necessary to apply the petroleum jelly extensively to the face. Instead, it can be applied specifically to areas that are particularly dry. This last point is important information for people with combination skin.
Risks and side effects
Finally, there are also potential risks associated with slugging: The skin needs to be able to breathe. This is how it regulates its temperature, for example.If a moisture barrier is too tightly sealed, this can lead to heat build-up or skin irritation.
