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Skin care advice is big on social media platforms. One of the most popular skincare hacks making the rounds for the last several years is “slugging” to moisturize skin. Here’s what you need to know about this skincare trend with a funny name.

What Is Slugging in Skincare?

Maybe you’re not sure what slugging is in skincare. Or want to know, does slugging work?

Slugging is the use of petroleum jelly, such as Aquaphor or Vaseline, to lock in skin’s moisture before going to bed. It’s a “K-beauty,” or Korean beauty term, for slathering your face with petroleum jelly as part of your nighttime skincare routine. It can help prevent water loss and provide a protective barrier for your skin.

Slugging first made a splash on TikTok in 2020, according to a report by the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). But this skincare trend has actually been around much longer. Dermatologists often recommend this at-home skin care remedy. It’s especially helpful during the winter months when skin is prone to dryness.

Bonus: Petroleum jelly, also called petrolatum, is often much cheaper than many pricey skin care lotions or serums. And a petroleum jelly or ointment is often more effective and less irritating than other lotions. Chances are you already have it in your medicine cabinet, too.

How slugging works

So, does slugging work? The short answer is yes. Slugging with petroleum jelly is an inexpensive way to relieve dry skin.

Dry skin can flake, itch, crack, and bleed. Dry skin can also leave your skin looking dull or “tight,” so wrinkles can look worse. On darker, or melanin-rich skin, dry skin can make the skin look gray.

Petroleum jelly can help your skin keep in moisture. It can also provide a protective barrier that prevents your skin from drying. Moisturized skin looks and feels smoother.

You can apply petroleum ointment over your face, including your lips and eyelids.

What Are Other Skin Care Benefits of Petroleum Jelly?

People have used petroleum-based products, which are oil-based, for skin care for more than a century. The AAD recommends using petroleum jelly for these skin care issues:

Heal minor skin injuries

When a wound starts to dry, it can form a scab. And scabs take longer to heal. Petroleum jelly or ointment can keep minor wounds, such as cuts, scratches, and scrapes, moist so a scab doesn’t form. Petroleum jelly can also prevent the scar from feeling itchy or getting too large or deep.

Clean the wound daily, with mild soap and water. Then apply petroleum jelly, covering the wound with an adhesive bandage. You don’t need to use any anti-bacterial ointments as long as you keep the wound clean.

Petroleum jelly can also help heal minor skin burns. To help heal burns, apply petroleum jelly two to three times daily, covering the area with a clean non-stick bandage each time.

If you receive radiation therapy for cancer, use petroleum jelly after each treatment. It can help the skin heal more quickly. Before your radiation treatment, the skin should be clean and free of any lotions or perfumes. Talk to your cancer care team about what ointment or other lotions they recommend.

Prevent chafing

Chafing is a painful skin irritation that can cause blisters. It happens when body parts rub together or rub against clothing or shoes. Chafing is a common problem for a baby’s sensitive skin.

Babies aren’t the only ones who get chafing. Adults can often get chafing during exercise in their inner thighs or on their feet, where the skin rubs against shoes. Using petroleum jelly or ointment in these areas can reduce the friction that causes chafing and blisters.

Rehydrate dry nails

Dry nails can happen if you use nail polish too often or if get frequent nail treatments, such as manicures and pedicures. You may also get dry nails from certain medical treatments, such as chemotherapy. Your nails may become brittle and chip easily.

To prevent nail breakage, give your nails a rest between polishes. And apply petroleum jelly to your nails and cuticles when they are still damp.

Treat diaper rash

Speaking of babies, petroleum jelly can help treat diaper rash. To prevent diaper rash, always keep your baby’s skin as dry and clean as possible.

If they develop diaper rash, apply petroleum jelly during each diaper change. Your baby’s diaper rash should clear up in three or four days. If the rash lasts longer, talk to your child’s pediatrician.

How Do You Slug?

Slugging is a nighttime skincare routine that can help seal your skin’s hydration while you sleep. As far as skincare routines go, it’s pretty simple. To slug your skin, follow these steps:

• Cleanse your face.
• Lightly pat your face with a clean towel, but don’t dry it completely. Slugging works best when you apply petroleum jelly on damp skin.
• Apply a thin layer of petroleum-based product, such as an ointment or jelly.

You can also slug other parts of your body that are dry or need moisturizing, such as your lips, feet, and hands.

To keep the petroleum jelly from rubbing onto your sheets, you can wear white cotton gloves or cotton socks.

Is Slugging Safe?

It’s a myth, based on an outdated study, that petroleum jelly and related products are comedogenic or clog pores. Evidence now finds petroleum jelly is non-comedogenic, meaning it does not clog pores.

While slugging can help your skin retain moisture, it’s not for everyone. If you have sensitive skin or skin problems, such as acne, you may want to avoid slugging, recommends the AAD.

Don’t use petroleum-based products on tattooed skin. Use water-based lotions instead. Petroleum-based products can cause the ink to fade.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on February 3, 2025, and was last reviewed on January 5, 2026.