Slugging: the K-beauty trend explained by experts

Written by: Mantasha Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 10 Aug 2026

What Is Slugging

[{"selector":"#anim-287eaadb-1547-4572-ae0a-40d83fb172b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23b38c4d-d7fc-484c-910f-d59dd55fe85c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-840bf39b-2bdd-46ae-ba84-3f55717d0994","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01737034-cefe-44fe-b77e-0643b89d4377","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 627.62708%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly as the very last step of your nighttime routine. It creates a seal that locks in all the moisture and products applied underneath. Photo Credit: Magnific

Why It Is Called Slugging

[{"selector":"#anim-dab499bb-c07d-4bed-bfe7-e7199fbd0874","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b1ce39a-14c9-458c-bb2a-34ea4014e4d1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.46329%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b60f111-69bc-4435-90e2-da17255ef43f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14a8b2d9-bbe5-4434-ae4b-25690dd5d6d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 440.63038%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The shiny slimy appearance after applying petroleum jelly looks like a slug trail. Unappealing name, genuinely effective results, making it one of the most talked-about K-beauty trends globally. Photo Credit: Magnific

What Experts Say It Does

[{"selector":"#anim-aebaf098-d9be-4451-ba12-39c4684e714d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc68870b-1126-4c4e-b4f8-43833b200cc7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.61535%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-763d5c5c-4aec-4d61-a588-21f6f2262a83","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b18f923-c7a6-40e3-992a-679f7301980d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 418.24226%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dermatologists confirm petroleum jelly is one of the most effective moisture-locking ingredients available. It prevents water loss, keeping skin deeply hydrated, plump, and significantly softer by morning. Photo Credit: Magnific

Who Should Try It

[{"selector":"#anim-62c9de66-5e17-4cc2-88ed-5a08a872cce3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c91f063d-ec1a-41d2-ac18-532c6639a251","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.46329%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-991759f6-56ea-41cc-9d28-87468addd3a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3ed6955-2b1d-4152-acf7-b78cf48298f3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 714.11361%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Best for dry, dehydrated, or compromised skin barriers. If your skin feels tight, flaky, or constantly dry, slugging can genuinely transform it overnight within just a few consistent uses. Photo Credit: Magnific

Who Should Avoid It

[{"selector":"#anim-bd4177fa-a430-4ddf-8789-954321f1b8e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-469cef9f-e1eb-423f-8f27-14e867fa5b60","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c83029af-161f-4ec1-8923-741bc10429ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-adfab8d7-da7e-47d4-9127-7d63d81fb961","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 627.62708%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Oily and acne-prone skin types should be cautious. Trapping existing sebum and bacteria underneath can worsen breakouts for those already prone to acne. Photo Credit: Magnific

How To Do It Correctly

[{"selector":"#anim-c3129172-e502-4e3a-8e97-6411f1b323bb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46de71c5-d693-40e0-9086-ccc5462d3f61","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 134.39876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59cfe4a5-16b6-4cd5-bc66-511d017fe050","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1c5345e-1d17-4c27-a5a4-f737ef6b8d02","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 627.62708%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Complete your full routine first: toner, serum, and moisturizer. Then apply a very thin layer of petroleum jelly on top as the final seal. Less is always more here. Photo Credit: Magnific

[{"selector":"#anim-517d3fff-2b94-4cf8-8688-eabd9b1b7c36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ff3f951-2528-4a50-9fd5-4fb698b2f926","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.46329%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Simple affordable and genuinely effective for the right skin type. One jar of petroleum jelly used consistently can completely transform dry dehydrated skin overnight. Photo Credit: Magnific