Skip the Slug: Why EFAs Beat Slugging Every Time

By Angela Hugghins, Licensed Esthetician | 26 Years of Skin & Skincare Expertise

Slugging had a viral moment. That shiny, glazed-donut look? It’s great for clicks—not always so great for your skin. If your moisture barrier needs support, there’s a smarter, evidence-backed way to heal it—Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).

Forget the trends. Let’s talk science.

What Slugging Gets Wrong

Slugging is the practice of slathering your skin in thick occlusives like petroleum jelly to trap hydration overnight. But here’s the problem: petroleum and mineral oil don’t fix your skin—they just sit on top of it.

They don’t feed your skin anything. No vitamins, no lipids, no anti-inflammatory benefits. And if you’re acne-prone or dealing with congestion? You’re probably just sealing in bacteria and setting yourself up for a breakout.

Why EFAs Are the Real Barrier Builders

Essential Fatty Acids aren’t just moisturizers—they’re bioactive lipids your skin actually uses to rebuild itself. Linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, and other EFAs integrate into your skin’s barrier and repair it from the inside out.

They reduce inflammation. They restore elasticity. They rebuild the “mortar” between your skin cells. And unlike occlusives, they don’t block your skin from breathing or healing.

What EFAs Can Do That Slugging Can’t:

🧬 Rebuild your skin’s lipid matrix
🔥 Calm inflammation and reactivity
💧 Improve long-term hydration from within
🔒 Reduce TEWL (transepidermal water loss) without suffocating skin
✨ Support acne-prone and sensitized skin without clogging pores

Still Slugging?

Here’s the thing: if your skin is dry and stripped, occlusion might feel soothing temporarily. But that doesn't mean it’s healing. It's like putting plastic wrap over a cracked wall instead of using the correct patch.

For real results, EFAs give your skin what it actually needs to recover—and stay resilient long term. Try Cult of Reason's Shield Skin Nutrition Oil for the most supportive blend of EFAs for common skin issues. I designed it with barrier support in mind.

Final Thoughts:

Slugging is surface-level. And don't even get me started on tallow. EFAs go deeper.

If you’re serious about healing your barrier and supporting long-term skin health, dump the slug and feed your skin from the inside out.

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