And in contrast to different TikTok developments, the phenomenon has taken off in a giant manner. Legacy manufacturers like SkinCeuticals and Jouer have each launched their very own slugging merchandise, whereas FutureWise, a complete line devoted solely to slugging, launched earlier this yr to rave evaluations.
However an excessive amount of of factor isn’t at all times useful, and that’s definitely true relating to slugging. Learn on to seek out out why every day slugging won’t 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?
Improper. In keeping with board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, overuse of occlusives can doubtlessly make your pores and skin ‘lazy.’ Whereas slugging is a good way to lure moisture and hydration deep into the pores and skin, it does all of the onerous be just right for you. Over time, and with too-consistent use of an occlusive, our pores and skin can grow to be lax and complacent.
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As Dr. Zeichner explains, that synthetic layer on the pores and skin’s floor can doubtlessly set off the pores and skin to cease producing its personal lipids, which, in flip, makes pores and skin even drier. In different phrases, continual slugging might block the pores and skin from receiving sure indicators from the surface world telling it to rev up its self-hydrating and moisturizing actions. Consequently, pores and skin can grow to be just a little too chill for its personal good.
You is perhaps extra acquainted with the phenomenon than you notice: It’s the identical cycle seen with lip balm ‘dependancy,’ through which the overuse of occlusive-based lip balms causes lips to grow to be extraordinarily dry and chapped. The result’s a vicious cycle of dependency that’s not solely dangerous to the pores and skin but in addition costly.
That being mentioned, in keeping with board-certified dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, MD, it’s necessary to understand that for these with very dry, common slugging will be extremely useful. 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 dimension suits all, there’s nobody, definitive reply right here. And that’s to not say that nobody ought to slug ever, and even frequently. Finally, it comes all the way down to your personal wants and the way your pores and skin reacts to the occlusive.
Should you discover that your pores and skin feels dry, stiff, and tight on non-slugging nights, that’s indicator that you just is perhaps overdoing it. Different telltale indicators that your pores and skin is perhaps veering into lazy territory embody lingering dullness, congestion, and reactive, acne-prone pores and skin. If that happens, it’s necessary to drop the slugging for a bit and as an alternative 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 carried out to definitively show the phenomenon—and in keeping 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 elements at play past simply extreme occlusives.
All’s to say: We nonetheless love slugging session, however you gained’t catch us getting gooey on the every day—we’ll be saving it for these events when our pores and skin might actually use that further TLC.
