If you want to dive deep into the ins and outs of traditional slugging, we covered that before in this full guide. Today, however, we’ll be sharing one quick user tip you may not have heard of yet (nor seen on TikTok). Below, experts share how to enhance your slugging method. The jelly balm creates a slimy film over your pores so you appear dewy and almost slippery—you know, like a slug. This mucus-like layer seals your skin barrier, helping those with super-thirsty skin lock in hydration overnight (our slugging guide here goes into way more detail, including who should and should not “slug.") And look, we’re all about sealing the skin barrier before bed, considering the skin is more permeable at night1 and extra vulnerable to water loss. If you have dry skin, it’s an A+ technique for intense barrier repair—just take a look at the many, many glowing results. Technically, we are pro-slugging here at mbg: Just know that you don’t have to use a petroleum-derived product to achieve the same, glowy results. However, even cosmetic-grade options are not so environmentally friendly, which is enough of a reason to avoid its use: “Mineral oil is petrochemical derived, meaning it’s environmentally irresponsible to use mineral oil when there are vegetable and fruit oils, like coconut oil, that are more sustainable,” says clean cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline about the ingredient. On top of that, balms that swap the petrolatum for other occlusives can make your slugging routine even more effective. “It’s occlusive, but it’s not as heavy-duty as Vaseline,” Alicia Yoon, celebrity esthetician and founder of Peach & Lily, tells mbg. “It’s my modified version of slugging: Over my moisturizer, I melt it into my hands, then slowly roll my palms over my face, just pressing it into my skin.” After two or three days with this slugging routine, her skin is left smooth and supple, with zero traces of winter chap. Pipette’s Baby Balm is another personal favorite, which includes squalane, jojoba esters, and berry wax for a richly hydrating jelly texture, sans mineral oil.
