Slugging

Slugging is applying a thin layer of an occlusive — usually petrolatum — as the last step at night, over the rest of your routine, to slow water loss while you sleep.

It works. Petrolatum reduces water loss through the skin by a large margin, and for dry, flaking or barrier-damaged skin a night of slugging can make a visible difference by morning.

The cautions are real:

- It seals in whatever is underneath. Do not slug over a retinoid or an acid — the occlusive increases how much gets absorbed, which can turn a tolerable active into an irritating one. - It is not for congested skin. If you are prone to closed comedones, an occlusive layer overnight frequently makes them worse. - It is not a moisturiser. Petrolatum holds water in but adds none. It goes over a humectant and a cream, not instead of them.

In Bangladesh's humidity most people do not need it for most of the year. The dry weeks from December are when it earns its place — and on lips, hands and around the nose, it is more useful than anything sold specifically for those areas.