My skin is glowing and hydrated, but for the third time in a week, I have to wash my face with warm water. This is the price I pay for trying out the latest skincare trends on the TikTok For You page. Slugging Slime is a beauty app that encourages skincare students to apply a thick layer of slime to their face before bed in the morning to boost skin hydration.
If this trend is circulating on social networks, its origins go back a long way. 50s icon Marilyn Monroe painted her face and body in the product, and more recently model Hailey Bieber and reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian have been supporters.
Like most OTT skincare routines, Softness originated in South Korea, where K Beauty experts popularized this one-step, one-product routine. Now racking up millions of views on TikTok, beauty lovers everywhere are obsessed with the promise of stunningly glowing skin.
Creator Edward Zhou posted one of 495.5 million videos under the hashtag #Slugging. Caption: 'TikTok made me lose weight', as the beauty influencer smears Vaseline on her face and says: 'This practice can promote transdermal water loss and help heal irritated skin. people with a damaged skin barrier or eczema like people who The 15 Second Clip has garnered 5.5 million views and thousands of people have commented on their love of exercise But does it work?
Vaseline contains pure petroleum jelly and a preservative. Vaseline is obtained by distillation of a by-product of offshore and onshore oil production. It has emollient properties, creates a protective barrier on the surface of the skin, retains moisture and is slowly absorbed. "In the skin overnight," says dermatologist and cosmetologist Emma Coleman. "Skin feels soft, smooth and hydrated in the morning."
© Evening Standard Courtesy of Going for Going : Slug is the latest beauty trend to dominate TikTok (Getty Images)For those with dry or sensitive skin, or those bothered by cold winter temperatures on their face, slime can be a fun, if a little OTT, way to rehydrate. It's like barrier repair, another TikTok trend that aims to repair flaky skin that's been damaged by strong retinoids and acids. But Coleman is quick to point out that petroleum jelly contains no nutrients, antioxidants, or active ingredients, so it won't help maintain healthy, balanced skin.
"Going to bed covered in heavy occlusive petroleum jelly wasn't my plan," says Diane Akkers, esthetician at Doctors Formula Cosmeceuticals. "I love using the occlusive, but it's best paired with another active ingredient that will benefit my skin while I sleep." This applies not only to the needs of your skin, but also to your bedding. "I prefer to use an active ingredient like Theobroma Cacao in my night care rather than leave a streak of petroleum jelly."
Also, although Vaseline itself is non-comedogenic (less likely to clog pores and cause blemishes), Coleman and Akers advise people with oily or combination skin to avoid rubbing it. Since acne is caused by bacteria trapped in the pores, applying thick or heavy products directly to the skin for an extended period of time can upset the skin's bacterial balance, leading to pimples. Again, if this sounds like a technique you'd like to try, you can go to any local store and buy a jar of Vaseline for less than five rupees. Given the pricey skincare products men and women typically shower with, this inexpensive hack is a welcome antidote, especially in the midst of a cost of living crisis.
This cheap hack is a welcome antidote, especially in the midst of a cost of living crisis.
If Vaseline isn't enough, try Huda Beauty Wishful Pillowgasm Cherry Glow Night Mask (hudabeauty.com; £34), CeraVe Healing Skin Protection Onguent (cerave.com; £22), La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 + Repair Balm ( larocheposay.co.uk; £15) and Anki List's Nourishing Night Rose Oil (theinkeylist.com; £8.49) achieve the same effect with the added bonus of active ingredients. Be sure to wash your face thoroughly before putting on to prevent unwanted bacteria from forming under the sticky layer.
When it comes to keeping the sheets down, try sleeping on your back or adding extra pillowcases.
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