I didn't hear the term Slugging until I came across it on Tiktok. I though, "Oh interesting" and wanted to know more about it. Upon looking into it, people were using Vaseline and layering it on their skin which was giving them more of a "glow". Which I understand Petroleum jelly is an occlusive so it would be good to help retain moisture. I was surprised to realize I had actually already been doing this. I just hadn't known the term yet. I started a few years ago when I bought the Farmacy Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm.
Farmacy Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm
At first I was not the biggest fan of this. It was such an interesting texture, lighter than a typical balm. It seemed a similar consistency to a cuticle salve. It was a weird feeling smearing this on my face.
After a few uses I noticed it absorbed very quickly and that my skin looked better in the morning. Almost as if I had been brought back to life. Following it up with the GlowRecipe Watermelon Glow Line-up, It has become my “go-to” when my skin has been feeling very dry and dull. Unfortunataly, this Holy Grail item has been discontinued, and I believe it wasn’t too long ago. Maybe within the last year, year and a half? I have enough to last for a little longer, but I’ve been looking into replacements.
-Only cons I had was that the container it comes in doesn’t really seem to work well. It doesn’t have straight sides so I have to really try and get all the product from the “shoulder”of the jar.
Some of the main ingredients:
-Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil - Sweet Almond Oil
This is an emollient containing lots of fatty acids, and vitamin E. The benefits of it are to smooth the skin, soften, and moisturize.
-Coco-Caprylate
Also an emollient so it has the benefits of smoothing the skin
-Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil - Sunflower Seed Oil
This is also an emollient containing a lot of fatty acids, including that of linoleic acid, is non-comedogenic, and absorbs into the skin quickly. The benefits of it are to smooth the skin, hydrate, strengthen the skin barrier, and to moisturize.
Honey Savior All-in-One skin savior
This was the first item I looked into as a replacement. It has the same Sunflower seed oil with all of it’s good properties, plus castor oil which is an occlusive to help hold in the moisture. I didn’t like this as much. It didn’t absorb as well as the other one. I like using it more on my hands and nails. Occasionally using it on my lips if I don’t have one of my lip balms with me.
I tried using it on my face a few times. I did notice that it made my face feel softer in the morning, but it didn't make my skin seem to glow like the Sleep Tight. I also felt like it made my pores larger. I never broke out from it, but I had to thougroughly wash with a double rinse.
The product cracked right up near the top and it oozes out. I don’t know if it’s from having it in my hot car at one point, but it has become more liquid now and drips out. I have since thrown it away and since I didn’t feel to strongly about it, I won’t be buying it again.
Some of the main ingredients:
-Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil - Sunflower Seed Oil
This is an emollient containing a lot of fatty acids, including that of linoleic acid, is non-comedogenic, and absorbs into the skin quickly. The benefits of it are to smooth the skin, hydrate, strengthen the skin barrier, and to moisturize.
-Ricinus Communis Castor Seed Oil
This is also an emollient as well as an occlusive. The benefits are to help soften skin, and helps prevent moisture loss.
-Honey Extract
This moisturizes, and helps to sooth skin. It is also anti-bacterial.
100% Petrolium Jelly
I wanted to try this since that was what a lot of people were using for Slugging. It has more of a sticky texture than all the other products. It’s great to help retain moisture, I could tell in the morning my skin felt soft.
It was still underwhelming though. The stickiness really bothered me. I felt overly aware of it on my face. Since there were more cons than pros it was a “No” for a Sleep Tight replacement, but a yes for other uses.
I have been using to Slug my feet. I start with the Olive and June Foot Serum and then layer the Petroleum Jelly over top and put on my Olive and June socks. It has helped soften my feet, and from time to time I'll put it on my elbows and knees when they are very dry.
Gisou Honey Infused Beauty Balm
I'll start by saying I love this. Using it reminded me of a mixture of the two Farmacy items put together and they have similar ingredients. The texture is a little thicker than the Sleep Tight but not enough to be a deal breaker, and I notice the same glow in the morning. Definitely need to make sure to clean it off in the morning since I can tell it’s still sitting on top of my skin. I typically do a double cleanse in the morning anyway.
I do notice the skin softening properties of the product at play. It has become a Holy Grail to me, and it’s not because I have chosen it as the sleep tight replacement. It’s because of how it has helped in other ways.
I get these dry patches on my skin that I have been dealing with since I was a child. The doctor never knew what they were and they are hard to get them to go away. They itch and they will bleed, and they are slightly raised. (Pictured below) I am able to get them to calm somewhat by using a lotion. But they never completely go away and I still have a raised patch of itchy/waxy skin.
I started using the beauty balm on it and it has actually cleared up. There is redness where there's a scar, but the texture of my skin is normal. I can’t even differentiate when I run my fingers across it. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that it helps retains moisture but also of it’s skin barrier repair ingredients. Needless today it is a holy grail for multiple reasons.
Only con: The smell. It’s not an aggressive smell but I’m not partial to it. Not a deal breaker or anything.
Some of the main ingredients:
-Ricinus Communis Castor Seed Oil
This is an emollient and occlusive. The benefits are that it softens and it helps prevent moisture loss.
-Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil- Grapeseed Oil
This is a light emollient, with antioxidants and fatty acids (linoleum acid and oleic acid), and vitamin E. The benefits are to soften skin and repair the skin barrier.
(After/Before)
-Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil - Safflower Seed Oil
This contains fatty acids, linoleic acid, and vitamin E. It helps to moisturize and nourish the skin.
-Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil - Sunflower Seed Oil
This is an emollient containing a lot of fatty acids, including that of linoleic acid, is non-comedogenic, and absorbs into the skin quickly. The benefits of it are to smooth the skin, hydrate, strengthen the skin barrier, and to moisturize.
Nothing will quite beat out the Farmacy Sleep Tight Balm. To me it’s very unique and I am sad for the day it is completely gone, but it did bring the Gisou Beauty Balm into my life and while it helps as a replacement, it has become my Skin Saver for my dry patches. I will be doing a full review of all the Gisou products I have used so far.
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