Get Slugging

When a much cooler, more stylish and clearly hipper tiktoking friend mentioned the word in conversation last week, I knew I needed to know more.

Don’t be put off by the not-so-glamourous name, this skincare routine step is what so many Carbine Ridge Avocado Balm users are already doing- and telling me how incredible the results are.

What is slugging? This more is more approach is not really something new- it’s a beauty routine revisited- with a few beneficial tweaks!

Slugging is the uncomplicated skincare trick that sees you covering your face in an occlusive ointment as the final step in your night-time routine. Tiktok skincare obsessives have been sharing videos of themselves smothering their faces in a thick, gloopy layer of vasoline as a way of trapping in moisture as they sleep. In theory, this makes sense. A thick barrier over your moisturiser, serum, toner or spritz means that the humectants and water molecules remain closer to your skin, and for longer. But skincare is nuanced and there is more to this skincare step than what our tiktoking friends are demonstrating.

Personally I can’t advocate the use of Vasoline or PawPaw ointment due to their main ingredient, petrolatum or petroleum jelly. Even though most manufacturers are clear about the refinements their jellies go through and most are safe, petroleum-based products are far from ideal.

Carbine Ridge Avocado Balm is a clean and lighter alternative that smells and feels so much more natural and nourishes and treats the skin the way petroleum jelly cannot. Avocado Balm uses a combination of high-quality organic ingredients formulated to absorb easily to deeply nourish and hydrate and also act as an occlusive or barrier against transepidermal water loss. A small amount, warmed in your hands and gently smoothed over your face before you go to bed will see you waking with a fresh and well-moisturised face. As we head into the months of skin dryness, this is something we can all do to give our skin a helping hand.

While Avocado Balm contains all natural and organic ingredients with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and is therefore suitable for oily and acne-prone skin, smaller amounts may be necessary for people with these skin conditions. Experts are also cautioning against applying any active ingredients, such as retinoids, exfoliants or topical vitamin C before slugging as you essentially increasing the potency by sealing it on the skin.