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Perhaps you’ve heard about slugging. While the term has recently been associated with Korean beauty trends, the practice has been around for much, much longer. In the 15th century, members of the Native American Seneca tribe would dig oil pits in northwestern Pennsylvania and use petroleum jelly on human and animal skin for a variety of reasons: to protect wounds, stimulate healing, and keep the skin moist. Petrolatum-based products gained popularity in the 1800s, and because of their accessibility, communities of color and immigrants have long gravitated toward them as a time-tested skincare tool. However, slugging isn’t just a “snake oil” trend that’s been passed on from generation to generation; it’s been touted as an effective method in the field of dermatology for preserving the skin’s moisture by layering an occlusive product onto the skin that acts as a second, less permeable barrier to prevent transepidermal water loss.
Futurewise is the brand that’s bringing the Slugging System to you. By using Futurwise’s three products—the Slug Boost, Slug Cream, and Slug Balm—in the right order, you can improve your skin’s hydration and wake up feeling dewey every morning, like I did for the past two months with just my one order of the Slugging System ($66).
We like
- All of Futurewise’s products are Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free and vegan, which means the brand doesn’t conduct any animal testing nor does it use animal-derived ingredients.
- The containers used in the Futurewise line or products are all recyclable.
- You don’t have to stop doing anything in your normal skincare routine to make use of the Slugging System. It’ll only boost how well the products you already own work and let them seep into your skin more effectively.
- Futurewise products are made with all types of skin types in mind.
- Buy the Slugging System and save when you purchase the bundle of all three products!
We don't like
- A couple of my product containers broke after a couple of uses.
- We wish Futurewise had a subscription service.
The Science Behind The Slug
It may already be obvious to you how slugging got its name: because of how dewey leaves the skin and how it makes you look like a slimy slug. I was used to the horrible reality of waking up with dry skin in the mornings that I could never really get to that plump, moist level I knew was optimal for keeping it looking and feeling healthy. I felt like the products I was already using at night evaporated off my skin too quickly before being substantially absorbed, so I was willing to try anything to improve my skin’s ability to absorb and retain moisture.
That’s when I heard about Futurewise and the Slugging System. As I mentioned, the System is made up of three products, each designed to optimize your skin’s health. First in line is the Slug Boost ($22), a little pink bottle filled with a hydrating mist that you can use to prime your face and decolletage. The Slug Boost is made up of hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, glycerin, and squalane, a combination of ingredients that hydrate your skin and dampen it so that the rest of your skincare routine will better penetrate your skin.
Next up is the Slug Cream ($24), a barrier repair moisturizer made from a vegan triple lipid complex (which strengthens the skin’s barrier) and a highlighting peptide that smooths the skin and makes it glow. Futurewise wants you to think of its Slug Cream as a hug for your face because it acts as a sealing layer while doing the reparative work our skin needs because of outer forces like cold weather or simply just getting older.
Finally, there’s the Slug Balm ($24), which is probably my favorite Futurewise product. It’s the moisture-locking occlusive product without which the entire Slugging System would not exist. The Slug Balm is a creamy jelly balm made from plant-based oils and a lipid complex (it does not contain petrolatum) that is truly so effective in helping your skin retain moisture.
The Slug in Action
I was completely new to slugging when I started using Futurewise products but the easy-to-follow instructions and the fact that they really only involved slathering my face in pleasant substances lured me in. Over the couple of months that my Futurewise products lasted, it was a breeze to incorporate them into my skincare routine.
Though I know I shouldn’t complain about having working AC in a city apartment, one of the downsides of running it all night long is waking up and feeling as if every last drop of moisture on my body has evaporated by the morning. I was in awe of how well the Slug Balm held in all the product I had applied to my skin on a nightly basis; I’d wake up with skin that was just as dewy as it was before hitting the pillow, still just as moist in the mornings. I was hesitant about using the Balm at first because I was worried most of it would rub off my face and end up staining my pillow, but my white pillow cases remained perfectly clean and my skin felt healthier than ever. And the best part of the Balm was how it optimized all the other products I was already using before starting the Slugging system and how it was increasing the time they spent on the surface of my skin.
Since air quality is, sadly, a common issue these days, I carried the Slug Boost around in my bag so that I’d have it the moment my skin started to feel a little dry or look a little weak. Not only did I truly feel rejuvenated with just a couple of spritzes, but the size of the bottle makes it perfect for toting it around wherever you go.
Futurewise’s Slugging line not only improved the feel of my skin within just a couple of weeks of use, but it made me appreciate what my skin is already able to do for itself in terms of keeping itself moist and healthy, and highlighted how important it is to work with what your body naturally does for itself. Use all three of the products together, or just one at a time—you’ll see a difference in the brightness and health of your skin regardless. I am now a devotee of slugging and I am so glad that Futurewise has made it so easy to make the practice part of my skincare routine.
