What Is Slugging On TikTok?

It’s one of the slimiest trends around, and if you’ve seen many oddly glossy people on your TikTok For You Page then chances are it’s all down to slugging. We've seen trends come and go on the app, including candle back massages and drinking spa water, but is slugging here to stay?

The trend has taken over beauty TikTok in a big way, but what is slugging, how do you do it and does it have any benefits?

If you want to give slugging a go, it involves applying your usual moisturiser and then slathering a petroleum-based product like Vaseline over the top. Next, you leave it on overnight, with the idea being the Vaseline creates a protective barrier to keep moisture in.

The trend is thought to have originated in Korea as it’s a popular K-beauty skin hack, along with the likes of mirror skin. Everyone is after dewy, glowing and well-hydrated skin, and slugging seems to provide that. It’s no surprise then that the hashtag on TikTok now has 167 million views, with skincare fans desperate to achieve the look.

The name might not be glamorous, but fans of the trend rave about it. It might not be all that though, as dermatologists have shared videos warning of dangers behind the trend and that it might make your skin worse instead of the glow you’re hoping for.

Many have reported cases that pores become badly clogged thanks to the petroleum jelly, as skin cannot breathe with it. Spots and breakouts are caused when bacteria gets trapped in your pores, so wearing Vaseline for an extended time could worsen things.

It’s also not ideal for those with oily or greasy skin, as it can make you look even shinier. Many fans of the trend complain of dry and flaky skin, so those with combination or oily skin are advised to look elsewhere. Other people who have attempted the method complained of getting Vaseline in their hair and also ruining their bedsheets, as well as smearing it all over the place as they like to sleep on their side or front.

It’s also important to not just use petroleum jelly by itself, and apply a moisturiser that is suitable for your skin type first.

How often to do it is also up for debate, as some proponents of the method do it nightly, while some dermatologists say it should be limited to just once a week. Would you give this a go?