“Slugging”: The viral moisture hack
“Slugging” is a skin care trick that helps moisturize dry, patchy skin.
USA TODAY
Vaseline has many surprising uses. For example, it is used to prevent skin irritation, treat diaper rash, prevent split ends, prolong and enhance the scent of perfume, heal cracks in the paws of dogs and cats, soften and style facial hair, and even to stop squeaky doors.
Even more commonly, however, Vaseline is used to strengthen, heal, protect, beautify, and moisturize the skin. Still, many wonder if Vaseline is the skin care solution they’ve been looking for. It might be, but it won’t work for everyone. Read on to learn who should use Vaseline for skin care and who might want to stay away.
What is Vaseline?
Vaseline is the brand name of petroleum jelly – a substance discovered in the 1850s by oil workers who noticed a byproduct forming on their drilling equipment – something they called “rod wax.” The workers had already noticed that it seemed to help with small cuts and minor burns when a Pennsylvania chemist began refining the semi-solid mixture of liquid (mineral oil) and solid (paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax), eventually patenting his formula and calling it petroleum jelly.
The main ingredient in Vaseline is a purified form of petroleum known as white petroleum. This is beneficial because “United States Pharmacopeia-grade petrolatum is pure and refined, so it does not contain any carcinogenic or irritating ingredients,” says Dustin Portela, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Treasure Valley Dermatology in Boise, Idaho.
Is Vaseline good for your skin?
This, combined with its many unique soothing and healing properties, means that Vaseline can be good for the skin. “It’s great for dry lips, dry skin, open wounds, small cuts and scrapes, healing biopsy sites or surgical incisions, diaper rash, and burns on the skin,” says Dr. Farah Moustafa, a board-certified dermatologist and chief of the Division of Laser and Cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center.
One of the reasons it aids healing, Portela says, is because it creates a protective barrier that aids the healing process. That’s why “it can also help soothe dry or inflamed skin and chapped lips and reduce irritation,” he adds. This barrier also prevents water loss, making Vaseline an effective moisturizer. “Even in skin with eczema, it can increase barrier and antimicrobial proteins,” Moustafa says.
Vaseline also has the advantage of being “non-irritating and having an extremely low risk of allergic reactions,” says Dr. Elika Hoss, a board-certified dermatologist and director of the Mayo Clinic Dermatology Cosmetic Clinic in Arizona. “So it’s safe to use on most people.”
Another reason it’s good for skin is that Vaseline “is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores,” says Dr. Debra Jaliman, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Still, she adds, “I wouldn’t use it on acne-prone skin, as there are other lightweight moisturizers that I think are better.”
Hoss agrees, pointing out another drawback that some users don’t like: “Vaseline can feel greasy on the skin, and a bandage or dressing may be necessary to protect clothing or bedding,” she says. One reason is that unlike other moisturizers, Vaseline “sits on top of the skin and doesn’t get absorbed, which can feel heavy or uncomfortable for some people,” Portela says.
Is Vaseline good for your face?
If you don’t mind the feel of Vaseline, you can use it anywhere, including on your lips and face. “If you have very dry skin and never get pimples, you can certainly use it on your face,” says Jaliman.
Portela agrees, saying many people use it on the face because of these benefits, both as protection against dry skin and adverse weather conditions and to lock in moisture. However, he advises using it sparingly. “Use only a thin layer to avoid excess oiliness,” he suggests.
When it comes to application, Moustafa says: “It’s best to use it after showering and after patting the skin dry, as the product absorbs so well and leaves only minimal residue.”
