And in contrast to different TikTok developments, the phenomenon has taken off in an enormous means. Legacy manufacturers like SkinCeuticals and Jouer have each launched their very own slugging merchandise, whereas FutureWise, a whole line devoted solely to slugging, launched earlier this yr to rave opinions.
However an excessive amount of of an excellent factor isn’t at all times helpful, and that’s actually true in the case of slugging. Learn on to search out out why day by day slugging may not be the very best transfer.
Is there such factor as an excessive amount of slugging?
Water retention and pores and skin barrier help are each important wholesome pores and skin. And since slugging does each, the extra you slug the extra you may assist your pores and skin, proper?
Fallacious. In response to board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, overuse of occlusives can probably make your pores and skin ‘lazy.’ Whereas slugging is a good way to entice moisture and hydration deep into the pores and skin, it does all of the onerous give you the results you want. Over time, and with too-consistent use of an occlusive, our pores and skin can change into lax and complacent.
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As Dr. Zeichner explains, that synthetic layer on the pores and skin’s floor can probably set off the pores and skin to cease producing its personal lipids, which, in flip, makes pores and skin even drier. In different phrases, persistent slugging could block the pores and skin from receiving sure indicators from the skin world telling it to rev up its self-hydrating and moisturizing actions. Because of this, pores and skin can change into a little bit too chill for its personal good.
You is likely to be extra conversant in the phenomenon than you understand: It’s the identical cycle seen with lip balm ‘dependancy,’ wherein the overuse of occlusive-based lip balms causes lips to change into extraordinarily dry and chapped. The result’s a vicious cycle of dependency that’s not solely dangerous to the pores and skin but additionally costly.
That being stated, in line with board-certified dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, MD, it’s essential to remember the fact that for these with very dry, common slugging will be extremely helpful. The important thing right here, dermatologists say, is to hearken to your pores and skin.
How a lot moisture is too a lot?
As a result of skincare is not one measurement suits all, there’s nobody, definitive reply right here. And that’s to not say that nobody ought to slug ever, and even usually. In the end, it comes all the way down to your personal wants and the way your pores and skin reacts to the occlusive.
When you discover that your pores and skin feels dry, stiff, and tight on non-slugging nights, that’s an excellent indicator that you just is likely to be overdoing it. Different telltale indicators that your pores and skin is likely to be veering into lazy territory embody lingering dullness, congestion, and reactive, acne-prone pores and skin. If that happens, it’s essential to drop the slugging for a bit and as a substitute depend on light-weight serums and moisturizers to hydrate the pores and skin with out compromising its productiveness.
And to be completely clear, that is all theoretical—there haven’t been any research performed to definitively show the phenomenon—and in line with Dr. Zeichner, it’d require long-term, constant slugging. As Dr. Hirsch explains it, your range doesn’t cease working simply since you UberEats each night time. That’s to say, there could possibly be different components at play past simply extreme occlusives.
All’s to say: We nonetheless love an excellent slugging session, however you gained’t catch us getting gooey on the day by day—we’ll be saving it for these events when our pores and skin might actually use that additional TLC.
