- Slugging is a popular skincare trend where people wear Vaseline on their faces.
- Dr. Sandra Lee, also known as Dr. Pimple Popper, has been slugging since she was a teen.
Skincare isn't always intuitive. For years, people thought moisturizer causes acne and that slathering your face with any rich substance would cause fresh zits.
So while "slugging," which involves wearing a thick layer of petroleum jelly on your face, might sound like an acne breakout waiting to happen, it's actually a dermatologist-approved way to hydrate your skin. One of its biggest fans? Dr. Sandra Lee, famously known on the internet and her TLC show as Dr. Pimple Popper.
@drpimplepopper #duet with @edwardzo #fauxfreckles <<#slugging #drpimplepopper #SLMDskincare ♬ original sound - EdwardZO
Lee told Insider that she has been using Vaseline on her skin "since she was a teen" — long before slugging took off on TikTok — and finds it to be one of the best ways to mitigate dryness.
Lee applies Vaseline after she showers to hydrate her skin
Because everyone's skin gets extra dry right after showering, Lee dabs Vaseline, Aquaphor, or a similar healing ointment on her eyes and lips — the parts of her face that can get especially dry and crackly.
If her skin feels dehydrated throughout the day, she'll reapply the ointment on her lips or hands. She also uses it on those areas at night to maximize hydration while she sleeps.
While she loves this hack, she said it's not for everyone
As Lee noted on TikTok, thick layers of Vaseline slathered over your whole face aren't necessary to get all the benefits of slugging. In her case, she mainly applies it to the areas where she needs moisture the most.
She also said that petroleum jelly might be too much for your skin if you're naturally oilier, and other dermatologists have recommended that slugging should only be done once a week.
In general, Lee stressed the importance of keeping your unique skin type in mind when trying new trends.
"Don't worry about what your friends are using," she told Insider. "Just find what works for you."