Skin Slugging

 

Last week, just before Thanksgiving hit, I wrote on hair slugging. While doing research on that topic, I discovered you could slug you skin too which makes sense since slugging adds and seals moisture into your hair or skin. This is especially important during winter when the elements and the conditions of your house work hard to suck the moisture out of your skin.

Skin slugging is referred to on Tik Tok but it has been around for a long time.  It is one of the basic tenants of the Korean skin care program which is one I use regularly because of how it makes my skin feel and look.

Basically, skin slugging means you slather an occlusive like petroleum jelly on your skin just before bedtime to hold in your skin's moisture.  Slugging also helps prevent water loss so you wake up in the morning with plump, glowey, moisturized skin. 

Let's look at the benefits in more detail.  As stated earlier, the occlusive you slather on your skin forms a barrier that prevents moisture loss.  This is important as you age because your skin tends to become drier and the barrier really helps slow tis down.  It keeps your skin looking younger.

Next, it protects your skin from the hot, dry, air circulating from the furnace or heater.  In addition, the barrier helps provide the protection from dust and other envoirnmental elements found in your house.  Furthermore, the occlusive layer does so much more.  It restores your skin's natural fats known as lipids as you sleep, keeps out bacterias, while helping skin retain its natural elasticity. There is some research that indicates the barrier can help restore the natural fats and repair the skin's natural barrier. 

Having said that, not everyone can do skin slugging.  If you suffer from clogged pores, acne, or other such problems, then this may not be a good thing.  In addition, if you use retinoids, alpha hydroxide acids (AHA), or beta hydroxide acids (BHA) you need to be careful because the combination of occlusives with these might irritate the skin. 

When you are looking for a night creme to use, look for ones that have petroleum or ceramides because they work the best.  Yes, petroleum jelly is considered one of the best occlusives on the market due to cost and effectiveness. Although ceramides are not actually occlusives, they work in the same way to are often mentioned in the same breath. 

If you want to practice skin slugging, there are two different ways you can do it.  The first way has you cleaning our skin at night but do not apply any face oils, AHA's, BHA's and retinoids.  While your face is still damp, apply a little of the product and smooth it all over the face.  Go to bed, sleep well, and when you get up in the morning, clean your face well.  Instead of a fancy pillowcase, use one you don't mind getting stained and can easily be cleaned.

The other way is to remove your makeup and clean your skin.  While your skin is still damp, smear some of your product of choice all over your face.  Go about doing your normal things and a few hours later, wash the occlusive off your face and gently pat dry.  This is good for a day when you have time and need a little extra something.

Always make sure the occlusive is applied to damp skin.  If you are using OTC or prescription topical medicines for acne or other skin problem, apply them after you've finished slugging because they could irritate your skin. If for some reason you break out, notice an increase in acne, or see blackheads, quit.

So if your your skin is dry or you want to counter all the issues with winter, try skin slugging on a regular basis to improve it.  You want your skin as healthy as possible.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Preparing For Tomorrow

 

After Starting To Shop Yesterday.

 Way more packages when done.

Happy Black Friday

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Hair Slugging!

 

The other day, I was reading my digital news and came across an article on hair slugging.  The first thing I pictured was hair beating up on itself but a quick search of the internet indicated that was not it.  Apparently, it came to public attention via Tik Tok as a hack designed to help your hair. Apparently, this developed out of a Korean skincare routine called skin slugging.

By definition, hair slugging is a process designed to lock moisture into the hair by using oil. It takes it a step further than just applying oil to your strands, it requires the hair to be covered by a sock or satin bonnet.  This helps the oil penetrate individual strands and when done, your hair looks healthier and shiny.  If you choose a sock, you might want to use a tube sock rather than a fuzzy sock so you don't leave any fuzzy bits in your hair.

To use hair slugging, one needs to wash their hair first so it is clean and has had all the extra moisture patted out so it is damp.  At this point, you apply oil to the hair.  It is recommended one use a light weight hair oil or serum because those are designed to penetrate the individual strands while providing protection but if you don't have any handy, you can use regular oil but you need to wash it out properly at the end.   You want to make sure the oil is well distributed throughout the hair, making sure the ends receive a generous amount and use little around the scalp.  Do not over penetrate the hair or your hair could end up too limp.

Furthermore, do not use a comb to distribute the oil, use your fingers as they do a better job. When your hair is soaked in oil, it can be a bit weaker and your fingers do not cause the hair to break as easily. Once the oil is dispersed throughout the hair, wrap it up in a sock or bonnet. Although some might recommend putting your hair into a pony tail before placing it in the sock or bonnet, a loose bun works much better. It is best to leave it in overnight but if you don't have that amount of time available, the oil can be left in for one to two hours.  

When you are ready, wash the oil out of your hair with lukewarm water and finish off with a cool water rinse to close the cuticles and lock the moisture in. If you use a regular oil like coconut or olive oil, you need to make sure it is throughly washed out otherwise it could lead to clogged pores and buildup. It is recommended one slug the hair at least once a week and up to three times if you have dry hair.   Just to let you know, this is not a "new" thing.  The idea of oiling ones hair has been around for a very long time.  It was used in Southeast Asia and India.  

So if your hair needs a bit of help in the hydration department, give this a try to see if it works for you.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Vitamin D And The Winter.

 Today, I'm exploring the question of why we usually get less Vitamin D in the winter. This is an important topic because it helps us stay healthy throughout our lives.   I know I get less Vitamin D in the winter and I end up having to take supplements to get enough.

The best source of Vitamin D is by having your skin exposed to sunlight for a minimum of 15 minutes a day. It is also the best source. In the winter we produce less Vitamin D because we wear more clothing so less of our skin is exposed and we spend more time indoors at the same time. 

When a person does not get enough Vitamin D, it can affect so many different things.  One of its most important roles is to help your body absorb calcium and phosphorus.  It also helps fight depression, muscle weakness, gets right of fatigue, and pain.  When you don't have enough Vitamin D in your body, your risk for cardio vascular diseases increases.  It can also help cut down on illnesses.

In winter, it is important to take specific steps to keep your Vitamin D levels up.  One thing you can do is to go outside every day even if it is cold. Unfortunately during the winter, when the angle of the sun has changed, a person usually needs more time to get the same amount of Vitamin D as one does in summer. It is recommended a person use sunscreen when going outside in the winter.  Research indicates that a SPF sunscreen of 15 protects 93% of UV rays from reaching the skin so this means 7% makes it through to be absorbed by the skin.  That is enough to help your body produce Vitamin D. 

Another thing is to make sure you eat plenty of foods containing Vitamin D during the winter. The few foods that offer a good amount of Vitamin D are fatty fish such as salmon, mushrooms, and eggs but milk is considered one of the best sources because milk is fortified with Vitamin D to prevent rickets in children.  Milk has been fortified since the 1930's. Other sources of dairy include yogurt and certain cheeses so if you are not a milk drinker, there are other dietary possibilities. 

If you aren't sure you are able to get enough Vitamin D via your diet or being outside, it is possible to take a regular supplement. The United States Government recommends that people get 400 to 800 International Units(IU) but most supplements are sold in the 800 to 2000 IU's so go for the lower amounts unless you've been diagnosed with a Vitamin D deficiency and the doctor will tell you what amount is best.

Always make sure you are getting enough calcium because if you do not have calcium available for the Vitamin D to use to add to your bones and circulate in your blood, your body will take the calcium out of your bones to make sure your blood has what it needs.  The same foods that have Vitamin D, also have the calcium so if you eat plenty of them, you should have enough of both Vitamin D and Calcium for your body's needs.

If you are taking medications, talk to your doctor to make sure the medications do not interfere with your body's ability to absorb Vitamin D.  This is important since you want to make sure you have enough Vitamin D so that you stay healthy.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.