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We Determine Whether Or Not You Should Jump On The Slugging Skincare Trend

21st March 2022

21st March 2022

By Beth Shelper

If you’re anything like us here at Innermost, and you’re into your skincare, have a social media account of any kind, or have gone anywhere near Reddit recently, you’ve probably heard of the term slugging at some point.

Whilst this isn’t the most attractive of names for a skincare strategy, granted, if it works, it works. Saying that, though, there have been mixed reviews – and that’s what this article is here to get to the bottom of.

You know us, we’re always ready and waiting to bust the myths around the latest health and wellness fads, and when it comes to skincare, our interests are no different.

What is slugging?

On the off chance that you haven’t heard what slugging is, don’t worry, we’ve got you. The latest in slugging skincare on Reddit describes a strategy which involves one ingredient and one ingredient only: petroleum jelly. Or, as it’s probably more commonly known by its very popular brand name: Vaseline.

Following your regular, day-to-day skincare routine (you know, cleanse, tone, moisturise, The Glow Booster), take good old-fashioned petroleum jelly and apply this to a particularly problematic area of your skin.

What is the point of slugging skincare?

The new slugging skincare technique is primarily aimed at those with dry skin. Essentially, the point of slugging is to enhance your skin’s natural barrier, whilst simultaneously locking in the products that you’ve previously applied to your skin in your skincare routine.

This gives your skin an extra layer of protection against potential bacteria, whilst giving your products their chance to work their magic.

Intended to be a technique implemented overnight, slugging in skincare has been praised for its hydration benefits. But what other benefits does this new craze bring?

What are the main slugging benefits?

The reported slugging benefits are all to do with hydration, with the top reported benefits including the below:

  • Increased hydration levels
  • Overall improvement in skin appearance
  • Enhanced glowing
  • Bouncy, youthful skin
  • Enhances the skin’s natural barrier

Are there any disadvantages to the slugging skincare hack?

As always, we like to bring the facts. We’re all about the science, after all. As a result, it’s only fair to give you both sides of the coin.

Reported disadvantages of the slugging skincare trend include:

  • An increase in oil on the skin
  • Topical breakouts
  • It can make a right old mess
  • Reported to trap dead skin

But… does Vaseline clog pores?

We know what you’re thinking.

Can I use Vaseline as a moisturiser on my face? Does Vaseline clog pores? Ummm…. Is Vaseline even good for your face?

All great, great questions. And this is where a lot of the controversy comes from surrounding this hot new slugging skincare technique.  

Whilst many skincare blogs and fanatics claim that their pores haven’t been clogged through this technique, a lot of people have questioned the very nature of Vaseline and the ‘moisture locking’ technique that this ingredient promotes. Surely, if petroleum jelly locks moisture, it clogs pores?

Maybe not.

According to the official Vaseline website, Vaseline is what we call in the business call noncomedogenic, which means that no clogging (or blocking) of any kind will happen to your pores.

Again, everyone is different though, so if you’re experiencing outbreaks (or adverse reactions, for that matter) following slugging, it’s definitely best to put down the petroleum jelly and resume your normal skincare routine. Stat.

Here's how to slug

Like we always say, to each their own, and if you want to give slugging a try, here’s how. It’s worth noting that this slugging technique is primarily aimed at those with dry to very dry skin, so if you’re someone with combination skin, or oily skin too, definitely steer clear.

Here’s how to nail the slugging trend:

  • Apply a very thin layer of petroleum jelly
  • Apply topically only, not all over your face
  • Apply at night for the best results
  • Only apply after completing your regular skincare routine
  • Don’t overdo it, once or twice a week is good enough

Summary

All in all, it looks like the slugging skincare trend. If you’re someone with particularly dry skin, it could be a good way to go, but if you’re more on the oily side – maybe steer clear of this.

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When it comes to improving your fitness levels, lifestyle and nutrition are key. From the number of hours of sleep you get each night to your daily nutrition and everything in between, each is as important as the other. This extends to finding the right protein powder to fuel your workout routine. Yet today more than ever, what goes into that shaker bottle now goes beyond macros and muscle; more and more people are asking themselves – ‘how does this protein powder align with my religious values and beliefs?’ While we’ve spoken before about our clean, research based and ethically sourced ingredients here at Innermost, this time we want to get a little more specific with a focus on halal and halal protein powder. With so many voices and fluff information around, it can be difficult to know exactly what protein is and isn’t halal friendly. That’s why we’ve put together this nifty guide. We’re going to break down all the myths and everything you need to know about halal protein. What you should be looking out for, what makes proteins like whey halal friendly as well as the benefits that halal friendly protein can offer to your body.  Right, let’s get into it. What is halal protein? I’m sure most of you are already aware of halal, but for the 1% of you that might not be, let’s take a step back and ask: what is halal protein? Halal – meaning ‘permissible’ in Arabic – refers to any food product that complies with Islamic dietary laws as stated within the Qur’an and Islamic jurisprudence. This makes it a core element of Islamic faith and a key cornerstone of their commitment to leading a pure and disciplined life under the guidance of Allah. Some of the key guidelines for halal foods include: Halal friendly ingredients – certain ingredients are not permissible under a halal diet, including pork (and any byproducts), alcohol and blood. Other animal products can be halal as long as they are killed in accordance with the ethical treatment guidelines below. Ethical treatment of animals – For non-pork meats to be considered halal, animals must be treated humanly and responsibly during their life. This includes: Having access to clean water and nutritious food. Being raised in a free-range and stress-free environment. Not being subjected to cruelty, abuse, or unnecessary suffering. The process of killing any animal must also be quick and humane to be considered halal, with any suffering kept to the complete minimum. Importantly, to be considered halal, the name of Allah must be pronounced during the humane killing to ensure the sanctity of life is recognised throughout the process. No cross contamination - During the preparation process, halal foods must never come into contact with non halal foods. This means no cross contamination between preparation surfaces, equipment used, the handling of foods and storage. As such, ingredients such as milk can be halal however it depends on the production process and if additional non-halal additives (such as gelatin) are added. So, what does this mean for protein?  Essentially any animal protein is halal as long as it adheres to the guidelines we’ve mentioned. The best way to tell is that products – such as Innermost proteins - will be certified halal friendly on the packaging. Is protein powder halal? So, with that said you might be wondering: is my choice of protein powder halal? The truth is that protein powder can absolutely be halal, however it entirely depends on the ingredients used as well as the overall production process. Common protein sources like whey, casein, egg white, and plant-based proteins (such as pea, soy, or rice) can all be halal if they are sourced and manufactured in compliance with halal standards. 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We at Innermost make it our mission to not only aid in muscle growth and recovery, but also to create protein supplements that are ethically sourced and rigorously tested to ensure individuals of any faith can smash their fitness goals.  Unlike competitors, our proteins are clean and built with the highest quality of ingredients and free from unnecessary additives and artificial ingredients.   We are proud to say that all our products are officially halal certified making them a suitable choice for those following the halal beliefs. This certification ensures that all ingredients and manufacturing processes meet Islamic dietary laws, with no use of haram substances such as pork derivatives or alcohol. With this in mind, why not check out our range of Innermost supplements to find out more about our halal proteins?     Read more
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