What Is Slugging? The Korean Skincare Trend Explained

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In the simplest terms, it’s just sealing your skin with a thin layer of something thick—usually petroleum jelly—at the very end of your nighttime routine. The idea is to lock in every bit of moisture you’ve put on underneath so your skin doesn’t lose it overnight.

What Is Slugging The Korean Skincare Trend Explained

Think of it like putting plastic wrap over a bowl of leftovers, except the “leftovers” are your skin’s hydration and goodness from your serums. Glamorous, I know.

Why people are obsessed with it

  • It stops your skin from drying out while you sleep.

  • It can help heal a damaged skin barrier (mine was practically screaming for help).

  • It makes everything you put underneath work harder.

  • It’s amazing if your skin is flaky, red, or feels tight in winter.

The very first morning I tried it, my face felt calm—like it had finally taken a deep breath.

How I do it (without feeling like a greasy pancake)

Here’s my lazy-girl, real-life slugging routine:

  1. Cleanse – Nothing fancy, just a gentle, non-drying cleanser.

  2. Hydrate – A serum with hyaluronic acid or glycerin (optional but chef’s kiss).

  3. Moisturizer – Something lightweight so my skin’s already happy before the jelly layer.

  4. Seal – A pea-sized amount of petroleum jelly spread thin, mostly on my cheeks and around my mouth where I’m driest.

That’s it. I don’t drown my face in it—just enough so it feels protected, not suffocated.

Is it for everyone?

Slugging is a dream if your skin is:

  • Dry

  • Dehydrated

  • Sensitive

  • Or just tired of looking dull

But… if you’ve got oily or acne-prone skin, you might want to skip it or at least patch test first. And if you use strong retinol or exfoliating acids, trapping them under jelly can sometimes irritate your skin.

My verdict

It’s cheap. It’s easy. It works. For me, slugging went from “ew, no” to “why didn’t I do this years ago?” And no, you don’t actually wake up looking like a snail—just with skin that feels like you’ve been secretly living in a spa overnight.

What Is Slugging The Korean Skincare Trend Explained

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