Slugging skin care is a trend of skin care in the dry season in Korea in the past few years. However, when importing into Vietnam with very different climatic conditions, perhaps we need to “localize” this method to be suitable for sensitive skin.
Slugging skin care method is known as the secret of Korean women’s dry skin care in the winter, when conventional creams do not seem to be “sufficient”. However, in fact, this method has been hotly discussed on the social network Reddit since 2014.
Slugging is a strange name, completely different from the beautiful names commonly found in kimchi beauty methods such as glass skin, jello skin… Derived from “Slug”, Slugging is a method of locking moisture with a mineral oil wax like Vaseline for example. It is because the application of a layer of moist polish on the face looks quite “slim” that this method is called Slugging.
Coating with a thick moisturizing layer to minimize water loss is a key feature of Slugging skin care. Photo: iStock.
In short, Slugging is a winter skincare trend for dry skin. After cleansing and applying toner, essence, serum or ampoule as needed, you will use a thin layer of grease or Vaseline to cover your face to prevent transepidermal water loss and retain moisture in the skin.
You have probably read in many articles that mineral oil is an ingredient that should be avoided. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, this is an ingredient that is gentle enough to care for baby’s skin. According to scientific research from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the unsafe oils in question are those that haven’t been carefully refined, potentially contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),a substance linked to cancer. breast . So as long as you choose a reputable product, mineral oil is a benign ingredient that you can use normally.
Contrary to popular belief, mineral oil is an extremely safe and benign ingredient. Photo: Pexels.
Applying the Slugging method for Vietnamese skin, what should be noted?
In addition to concerns about safety, the Slugging method also raises concerns about its effectiveness in a hot and humid tropical country like Vietnam. In winter in cold countries like Korea, the temperature can be as low as 0 degrees, but in Vietnam, the temperature ranges from 10 to 16 degrees.
Therefore, ELLE does not recommend you to use this method for facial skin because most Vietnamese people have oily skin with active sebaceous glands . Coating with mineral oil can clog pores, leading to breakouts. Although not suitable for facial skin, this method is extremely effective in treating cracked skin on the hands and feet.
A healthy, warm hand skin is the desire of many people in the dry winter. Photo: Pexels.
Slugging application to care for dry hands in winter
Dermatologists say that whether the skin of your hands and feet can withstand the harshness of cold weather depends on the health of the skin barrier. The skin barrier is a combination of proteins, lipids and oils. If the protective barrier is weak, dehydrated, and lipid textured, the skin in general and the skin of the hands and feet in particular is likely to become dry and cracked when the weather turns cold. So the solution to less dry hands and feet skin is to protect the skin barrier and prevent maximum water loss. To do this, Slugging is an effective method.
Slugging for hands and feet consists of only 2 simple steps: cleaning and moisturizing, avoiding dehydration.
Applying the Slugging method to strengthen the skin barrier will prevent dry cracked hands and feet. Photo: iStock.
CLEANING for dry skin in winter
We need to clean gently with moisturizing hand products rather than using soap bars with high detergent and dry skin. Choose a cleaning product that has a pH close to that of your skin, around 4 to 5, and avoid products with fragrances and sodium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant foaming agent.
Do not wash your hands with alkaline soaps and strong detergents to avoid drying your hands. Pexels photo.
Moisturizing for dry skin of arms and legs in winter
Winter is the time when we need to replace delicate and fragranced hand and foot care products with mineral oil, and thick moisturizers containing emollients: lanolin, jojoba oil , etc. squalene and glyceryl stearate…; humectants: glycerin, hyaluronic acid, urea, dimethicone, shea butter, or beeswax…
Choose a moisturizer with a thick consistency to minimize water loss. Photo: Unsplash.
On days when the weather is too dry, or you want to increase your moisture overnight, you can apply a thick layer of cream and then wear gloves or socks with a light material like silk. When you wake up in the morning, your hands and feet will feel as smooth as a baby’s skin.
