I Used Vaseline as a Night Mask — My Skin’s Reaction Shocked Me

Last updated on: February 2, 2026

If you spend even five minutes on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably seen the “slugging” trend everywhere. Women are covering their faces with Vaseline at night and waking up with glowing, glass-like skin. At first, I honestly rolled my eyes. Vaseline? The same oily jelly I use on my elbows and cracked heels? On my face?

But the more I watched other women trying it, the more curious I became.
So I finally said, “Okay, let’s see what happens.”

And trust me… my skin’s reaction shocked me in ways I was not ready for.

Table of Contents

Why I Decided to Try Vaseline Overnight

I live in a climate where winters feel like they steal every drop of moisture from your face. My skin was dry, flaky, tight, and just looked tired. No glow. No softness. Just dull.

I had already tried fancy moisturizers, calming creams, and hydrating serums. Some helped. Some did nothing. But I kept coming across women saying Vaseline “saved their skin barrier.”

At first, I thought it would break me out instantly. I have normal-to-dry skin, but I do get clogged pores easily. Still, the curiosity won.

I wanted to see if this $3 jelly could actually give me better results than my $60 night cream.

Here’s Exactly How I Used It

If you decide to try this, the steps matter. Vaseline is an occlusive, which means it traps whatever is underneath. So I wanted to keep things simple and clean.

Here’s what I did:

Washed my face with a gentle cleanser
Applied a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid
Added a light moisturizer (this step is optional)
Used a tiny amount of Vaseline and rubbed it between my fingers
Pressed it gently on my face — not thick, just a thin layer

I tied my hair, changed to an old pillowcase, and prayed I wouldn’t wake up with a greasy breakout.

The First Night: How It Felt

I’m not going to lie: the first five minutes felt weird. My face felt slippery and shiny — like I dipped it in oil.

But surprisingly, after about 10 minutes, I stopped noticing it. My skin didn’t feel suffocated. It actually felt calm. No stinging, no burning, no discomfort.

The true test was the morning.

The Morning After — This Shocked Me

When I woke up, the first thing I did was touch my face.
I expected grease.
I expected clogged pores.
I expected regret.

But instead… my skin felt unbelievably soft.
Like baby-skin soft.

When I looked in the mirror, I literally gasped.

My skin looked:

More even
More plump
More healthy
Less irritated
Not greasy at all after washing

The dry flakes around my nose were gone. The tiny lines on my forehead looked smoother. And the overall glow? I hadn’t seen that in weeks.

I honestly couldn’t believe it.

One Week Later — Even More Surprising Changes

I kept using Vaseline as a night mask for one full week, but not every night. I did it four nights total.

Here’s what I noticed:

1. My dryness disappeared

No more tightness. No more flaky patches. My skin felt comfortable all day.

2. My skin barrier felt stronger

Usually, when I use retinol or exfoliants, my skin gets irritated easily.
But that week, it didn’t. Vaseline seemed to protect it.

3. My makeup went on smoother

Foundation didn’t cling to dry spots. My skin looked more fresh and hydrated.

4. No breakouts — and this shocked me the most

Because Vaseline feels like it should clog your pores, right?
But Vaseline is actually non-comedogenic, which means it doesn’t clog pores. It just sits on top to prevent water loss.

I kept checking my chin and nose area (the places where I break out first). Nothing. My skin stayed calm.

But Here’s the Science Behind It (In Simple Words)

Your skin loses water at night. This is called trans-epidermal water loss.
When your skin barrier is damaged, this water loss gets worse, and that’s when you feel dry, tight, or irritated.

Vaseline acts like a seal, so your skin doesn’t lose moisture while you sleep.
It doesn’t add hydration — it just locks in what you already have.

This is why it works best when you apply it over something hydrating like a serum or moisturizer.

Who Should Try Vaseline at Night?

Great for:

Dry skin
Flaky winter skin
Irritated skin barrier
People using retinol or AHAs
Anyone craving a soft, dewy, plump morning glow

Not ideal for:

Very oily skin
Acne-prone skin
People sensitive to heavy products
Hot, humid climates

If you get clogged easily or have active acne, you might want to skip it or try a lighter alternative like CeraVe Healing Ointment or Aquaphor.

Tips to Make Vaseline Work Even Better

After trying different variations, here are my personal tips:

Use only a thin amount — pea-sized is enough
Apply on slightly damp skin for best results
Don’t use other comedogenic (pore-clogging) products underneath
Try it 2–3 nights a week instead of every night
Change your pillowcase often
If you’re oily or acne-prone, use Vaseline only on dry areas (slugspotting)

These small changes make a big difference.

What Dermatologists Say

Most dermatologists agree on these points:

Vaseline is extremely safe
It’s great for dry skin
It’s non-comedogenic
It won’t clog pores by itself
But it can trap oils or dirt underneath, so apply it only on clean skin

Many dermatologists even recommend it for people with eczema, sensitive skin, or a weakened skin barrier.

My Final Verdict: Would I Do It Again?

Yes. A big, glowing, hydrated YES.

Vaseline surprised me in every possible way.
It gave me softer skin in one night than many expensive creams ever have. It calmed irritation, reduced flakiness, and gave me that healthy morning glow we all love.

Will I use it every night?
Probably not. My skin doesn’t need it every day.

But will I keep it in my routine for dry days, winter, or when my skin feels tired?
Absolutely.

If you’ve been curious about trying the Vaseline night mask but were scared of breakouts or greasiness, I get it. I felt the same way. But honestly, it might just be the simple trick your skin needs.

Give it one night.
Your skin might shock you too.