slugging
/ˈslʌɡɪŋ/
CommonApplying a thick layer of petroleum jelly as the last step of your nighttime skincare routine to lock in moisture.
Named for the slimy trail a slug leaves. Not suitable for acne-prone skin because the occlusive can trap bacteria.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | I started slugging last month and my dry patches are completely gone | The person is reporting real results from using petroleum jelly overnight. | reddit, 2023 |
| 02 | slugging is genuinely the best thing that ever happened to my skin. $3 Vaseline. that's it. | Expressing strong enthusiasm for the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the technique. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | do not slug if you have acne. I cannot stress this enough | Warning people with acne-prone skin against the technique. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | me at 1am looking like a glazed donut because I'm slugging tonight | Joking about the greasy appearance of having petroleum jelly on your face. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing the technique of using petroleum jelly as a final skincare step.
- Recommending or asking about moisture-sealing overnight treatments.
- Discussing dry skin remedies in a skincare community.
Do not use it when
- You mean using any moisturizer as the last step, not specifically an occlusive.
- You have acne-prone skin and are recommending it broadly without caveats.
Slugging vs barrier repair
slugging
Slugging is a single technique, applying an occlusive as the final step.
VS
barrier-repair
Barrier repair is a broader goal of restoring the skin's natural protective layer, often involving ceramides, fatty acids, and multiple products.
Origin and context
The term spread widely on TikTok and Reddit skincare communities around 2021-2022, though the technique of using petroleum jelly as an occlusive is much older. The name comes from the visual similarity to a slug's trail.
- First seen
- early-2020s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/sluggingUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0