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Has anyone heard of "slugging"?

26 replies

MonkeyTennis34 · 25/02/2025 11:06

I met a woman in a cafe at the weekend who had gorgeous skin, probably early 50s.

She told me which foundations she uses (Laura Mercier and Estée Lauder) and she also mentioned slugging...where you apply your night cream then apply a layer of Vaseline on top!

Was she being serious?

As I say, her skin was beautiful so I might give it a whirl!

OP posts:
dudsville · 25/02/2025 11:10

I don't like the term, which I too came across only recently, but I've been doing this for a good few years now. There are a few old threads about it. I use Elizabeth Stem night time miracle as my vaseline top layer, only I do this big morning and night.

theteachesofleeches · 25/02/2025 11:11

DB does this and has for 15 years - he is 38 and gets ID'd still! He uses Tret all overs face as anti aging and I think it is for people who do that as it is so drying :)

Mulledjuice · 25/02/2025 11:12

Apparently Hollywood actresses used to do it to encourage downy hair growth so they'd have a sort of fuzzy face halo effect on screen.

I'd just be spotty

LadyLucyWells · 25/02/2025 11:14

Yes and it is nothing new, it obviously just now has a word. I am 53 and have done this (at times) for years (eczema prone/dry skin).

Matrixremooted · 25/02/2025 11:15

I watched a short YouTube clip on this by 2 Dermatologists and it made sense to me. I do it occasionally but I get fed up of my hair sticking to my face 😄

Overtheatlantic · 25/02/2025 11:18

It sounds like Victorian kink involving hedgerows and exposed ankles.

MumsBeautyHelper · 25/02/2025 11:18

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Chuchoter · 25/02/2025 11:31

I've done it for forty plus years and have great skin.

Chuchoter · 25/02/2025 11:33

Just to add, I only put Vaseline around my eyes and lips, not on my nose or cheeks.

I have beautiful eyelashes as well.

I also use a tiny amount on my toes and fingernails and have strong but supple nails

I use Vaseline all over, even a tiny amount through the ends of my hair to keep flyaways down and my hair looking smooth and shiny.

theyreallyaredicks · 25/02/2025 11:33

vaseline doesn’t work for me but a Korean style sleeping mask can do similar things. Or just using a water based serum first and then an oil (occlusive).

BombayMixAllOverMyDesk · 25/02/2025 11:36

Is that when women draw on very heavy yet defined eyebrows with a sharpie pen?

kaela100 · 25/02/2025 11:45

Women who use tret usually do that, so I'd probably just ask for her dermatologist's number

Chuchoter · 25/02/2025 11:49

Just to add that the term 'slugging' is a modern thing, used by someone who thought they had invented the idea!

Women have been doing it for decades, my grandmother did in the 1940s and my mother in the 1960s who was a model before she started her family.

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 25/02/2025 11:51

Overtheatlantic · 25/02/2025 11:18

It sounds like Victorian kink involving hedgerows and exposed ankles.

😂

DuckTales1234 · 25/02/2025 12:01

It's awesome! It doesn't have to be Vaseline, though. I've been doing for many years now, but alternate between rosehip oil and grape seed oil, and my skin looks amazing!

ItGhoul · 25/02/2025 12:27

It’s not a new thing (gross name though).

It obviously works well for some people, but I’m thinking it’s likely most effective for dry skin types, because I have skin that’s more oily / combination and it would be utterly ruined by a double layer of moisturiser and a greasy mineral oil like Vaseline! I’d end up with surface spots within 48 hours and deep cystic acne after three or four days.

I never get any dryness or redness from things like retinol or acids though.

Buttonless · 25/02/2025 12:33

Yes, I’ve done it for years.

Lostsadandconfused · 25/02/2025 12:34

I slug at night over my Azelaic acid and Tret. And sometimes during the day when I’m working from home.

My current fav product to slug with is Cerave Advanced Repair Balm. It has a petroleum jelly base but with ceramides and HA.

MonkeyTennis34 · 25/02/2025 13:11

So using an oil over my moisturiser would be the same as using Vaseline?

I ask as I gave a few facial oils right now but no Vaseline?

OP posts:
prescribingmum · 25/02/2025 13:16

Only recently discovered the term slugging but have used Vaseline over tret for years as per advice of Dr Natalia Spierings - one of few dermatologists who do absolutely no paid advertisements and only promote practices backed by evidence

Saves me an absolute fortune on expensive moisturisers too

MumsBeautyHelper · 25/02/2025 13:18

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theyreallyaredicks · 25/02/2025 15:00

@MumsBeautyHelper that is interesting and helpful, may try that tonight!

FastFood · 25/02/2025 15:03

I do it, almost every night, on my face, neck, cleavage and on my hands (with cotton gloves).
My skin feels amazing in the morning.

theyreallyaredicks · 25/02/2025 15:08

How much do you put on - presumably a very small amount or it would be constantly ruining sheets?

MaggieBsBoat · 25/02/2025 15:10

Marilyn Monroe was a committed slugger. Rest in peace queen.

I’ve started using oil by Ole Henrikson and it’s fabulous. I’m going to buy some cerave as mentioned above and start.

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