If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve probably seen people asking: can slugging help acne? Suddenly everyone’s covering their entire face in Vaseline like it’s the secret to glass skin, calling it the ultimate viral skincare trend. And sure, the before-and-afters look convincing – shiny, glowy, “I just woke up like this” kind of skin.
But let’s be real: if you’ve got acne-prone skin or fall into the oily skin types camp, the thought of piling on a thick layer of petroleum jelly before bed sounds… well, gross. Like, won’t that just trap bacteria under there? Won’t it make your acne breakouts worse? Or is there actually a chance it could calm a damaged skin barrier and help your other active ingredients (think salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, hyaluronic acid) work better?
That’s the big question. So instead of giving you fluffy TikTok tips, let’s break down what slugging actually does, the science behind it, the benefits of slugging, and whether this whole skincare technique is actually a good fit for people dealing with acne.
First Things First: What the Heck Is Slugging?
Slugging is basically smearing an occlusive product (usually a petroleum-based product like Vaseline) as the last step in your skin care routine. The whole point is to create an occlusive layer (aka a film on top of your skin) that locks in everything underneath it. Dermatologists call this reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) – in plain English, it stops your skin’s natural hydration from evaporating into the air overnight.
People started talking about slugging because of K-beauty. Yep, it was popular in South Korea before TikTok picked it up and made it go mainstream. Over there, it was promoted as a great way to prevent dryness and maintain a protective barrier on the skin. In the West, it became a meme because, well, waking up looking like a glazed donut is Instagram gold. But here’s where it gets tricky: what works beautifully for someone with dry, flaky, or sensitive skin may not be a good idea for someone who’s fighting acne.
Related: 4 Things I Learned About Korean Skincare
The Science of Occlusive Ingredients (And Why They Matter for Acne)
The backbone of slugging is occlusive ingredients like petrolatum (the main component of Vaseline), mineral oil, and sometimes lanolin. These sit on top of your skin and form a protective layer, preventing moisture loss. Out of all of them, petrolatum is the gold standard. It’s been studied for decades and shown to reduce transepidermal water loss by up to 99%. That’s why Vaseline is often used by a board-certified dermatologist after procedures like laser treatments or chemical peels – it helps heal damaged skin barriers by keeping the environment moist so skin cells can regenerate properly.
But here’s the catch: when you put an occlusive layer on your face, you’re not just locking in moisture. You’re also locking in everything else – your hyaluronic acid, your facial oil, your active ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or benzoyl peroxide. Sounds amazing, right? They’ll penetrate better and work harder. Well… not always. If you’ve got sensitive skin, this can massively increase the risk of irritation. Some actives, like acids and retinoids, are already irritating enough on their own. Seal them under an occlusive and you may wake up red, flaky, or stinging. That’s why most derms recommend using slugging over gentle skincare products, not harsh exfoliants.
Can Slugging Help Acne?
Ok, so here’s the deal: does slathering Vaseline on your face actually help acne, or does it just make you look like a greaseball? Honestly, acne isn’t always just about oil and bacteria. Half the time we do it to ourselves. We go too hard with exfoliators, throw every acne treatment under the sun on our face, scrub at dead skin cells like we’re trying to sand wood – and surprise, our protective barrier ends up wrecked. When that barrier’s trashed, your skin gets cranky: red, dry, itchy, inflamed, and yep… more pimples.
That’s the angle where slugging can actually help. When you slap on an occlusive layer (basically a thin layer or even a thick layer of petroleum jelly), you’re locking everything in, giving your skin a break, and telling it, “hey, just chill and repair tonight.” That protective layer keeps hydration in, so your skin doesn’t freak out, and it can make it easier to tolerate active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide without your face burning off.
But let’s not kid ourselves – slugging isn’t some acne miracle. It doesn’t kill bacteria, it doesn’t speed up turnover like glycolic acid, and it’s not replacing your go-to acne treatments. And if your skin’s on the oily or combination skin side, coating your entire face in Vaseline can feel heavy, sweaty, and sometimes even trap bacteria and oil in places you don’t want it. That’s why people say slugging made their breakouts worse.
So yeah, if your breakouts are mostly from dryness or a busted barrier, slugging might help calm things down. If you’re expecting it to erase pimples overnight? Nah, that’s not happening.
How To Do Slugging Without Wrecking Your Skin
Wanna try slugging but terrified it’ll make your face explode in zits? Here’s how to play it safe:
- Don’t go full donut: If you’ve got acne-prone skin, don’t slather your whole face. Just do the driest spots – cheeks, around the nose – and leave the oily T-zone alone.
- Keep it boring underneath: This isn’t the night for your acids. No active ingredients, no experiments. Stick with hydrating stuff like hyaluronic acid and a lightweight moisturizer, then lock it in.
- Thin layer > cake frosting: You don’t need to shellac your face. A thin layer does the job. Save the “glazed donut look” (aka a thick layer of petroleum jelly) for when your damaged skin barrier is screaming.
- Stick to the basics: Plain Vaseline or Aquaphor is your friend. Skip the fancy balms with oils and scents – that’s a one-way ticket to sensitive skin meltdowns.
- Always the last step: Slugging is your final step, not your first. Lock it all in at the end of your night routine, and definitely don’t try to put makeup or sunscreen on top in the morning.
The Benefits of Slugging (When Done Right)
Even if you have acne, there are definite benefits of slugging when it’s done smartly:
- Helps repair a damaged skin barrier
- Reduces transepidermal water loss so your skin stays hydrated
- Supports healing for sensitive skin or inflamed skin conditions
- Makes your skincare products more effective by sealing them in
- Provides a protective layer against harsh environments (cold air, pollution, wind)
This is why derms often recommend it after treatments – it’s literally like shrink-wrapping your skin to help it heal.
The Risks and When It’s Not a Good Idea
That said, slugging isn’t for everyone. If you’re actively breaking out with cystic acne, covering everything in Vaseline is usually not a good idea. The occlusive layer won’t magically fix the bacteria, hormones, or inflammation driving those pimples – and it could make them feel worse by keeping your skin oily and congested.
It’s also not great if you’re mid-way through strong acne treatments (like prescription retinoids or antibiotics), unless your board-certified dermatologist explicitly tells you to slug to reduce irritation. In some cases, slugging might counteract those treatments by making your skin more sensitive to them.
And for people with oily skin types or combination skin, slugging the whole face is usually overkill. Stick to targeted slugging on dry areas instead.
What To Do Instead Of Slugging (That Works10X Better)
So far, I’ve given you the research. Now, I’ll give you my personal take. I’m NOT a fan of sluggish. Because unless you have dry skin, slathering your skin in petrolatum isn’t the best idea. Here’s what I’d do instead:
- Barrier repair creams: Look for moisturizers with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and fatty acids. These basically rebuild the “mortar” between your skin cells so your face holds on to water without needing an occlusive product on top. CeraVe PM Moisturising Lotion (suitable for all skin types) and Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Moisturizer (better for dry skin) are excellent choices.
- Lightweight facial oils: If petrolatum feels too suffocating, a few drops of something like squalane or jojoba can act as a gentler protective layer. Oils won’t block transepidermal water loss as well as Vaseline, but they also won’t feel like you slept in butter.
- Skip the overkill: Half the time a “wrecked barrier” is from piling on too many active ingredients. Dial back the glycolic acid, go easier on salicylic acid scrubs, and don’t double up on benzoyl peroxide just because TikTok told you to. Sometimes your skin doesn’t need more – it needs less.
- Layer smarter: Instead of slugging, try ending your skin care routine with a heavier cream or balm. It’ll still lock stuff in, just not as aggressively as a full-on Vaseline mask. Think of it as “slugging lite.
So yeah – slugging can be a great way to fix damaged skin, but it’s not the only way. You don’t need to wake up with your pillow sticking to your face to get the benefits of slugging.
Bottom Line: Should You Try Slugging for Acne?
So, can slugging help acne? Kind of. It’s not medicine, it’s maintenance. Slugging can calm a damaged skin barrier and cut down on transepidermal water loss, but it won’t kill acne bacteria or replace your acne treatments. If your breakouts come from dryness or irritation, a thin layer of Vaseline as the last step in your routine might be a great way to help. But if you’re oily, already breaking out, or hate feeling like you dipped your face in butter, it’s probably not a good fit. And honestly? I’m not into slugging. Unless your skin is super dry, covering your whole face in a petroleum-based product just feels unnecessary. There are easier ways to protect your barrier that don’t leave you sticking to your pillow.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
