Futurewise, We Hardly Knew Ye
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This story first appeared on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, inThe Strategist Beauty Brief,a weekly newsletter in which our beauty writers share their must-tries, can-skips, and can’t-live-withouts. But we liked it so much we wanted to share it with all of our readers. If you want more first impressions of buzzy launches, quick takes on what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram, and deep dives into the week’s best beauty launches, sign uphere.The Strategist Beauty Briefis delivered every Wednesday.
On March 3, skin-care brand Futurewiseannounced it would be “sunsetting.”I am not ashamed to say I fell to my knees. I have become aFuturewisefan over the years, using its Slug Cream and Balm consistently. The brand launched as an answer to the “slugging” trend, a moisturizing technique that involves applying a thin layer of an occlusive, usually petroleum jelly, as the last step of your nighttime skin-care routine. The idea is to “lock in” the moisture from the other skin-care products beneath and prevent moisture loss overnight. Futurewise began with three products: a moisturizing mist, a moisturizer (Slug Cream), and the Slug Balm. The big difference between the balm and, say, Vaseline, is that it’s not formulated with petroleum, a waxy jelly made from refined crude oil. The consistency is also nice. It’s a little more melty, which translates into a thinner, lighter layer. When I use Slug Balm, my skin always feels protected but not weighed down, a tricky balance to strike.
Since learning the news, I’ve been on the hunt for something similar. For now, I recommend usingRhode Barrier Butter, a lotion-y balm that’s deeply moisturizing. I like it, though the texture and scent take some getting used to. There’s something medicinal about the way it smells, a bit like antiseptic mouthwash, but inoffensive the longer I use it. The texture is also interesting; it smooths in the hand easily but then gets a bit tacky. It reminds me of using soap at a hotel, when you’re left with that strange squeaky-clean feeling. Small quirks aside, I’ve really been enjoying it and reach for it nightly. I think it will be ideal as summer approaches, when heavier products feel oppressive.
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I’m also keeping my eye out for a spot-on replacement. A few look promising, like theGlossier After Baume, which is spiritually similar. It contains cupuaçu butter and babassu oil along with microalgae and linoleic acid — ingredients I like in a moisturizer. I’m also curious about theFirst Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Rescue Skin Barrier Balm, which has a mix of dimethicone and glycerin. At first glance, it seems hydrating and spreadable, which sounds nice. If you’re open to petroleum jelly (I am),Skinceuticals also makes a balm, as does another brand, Experiment, one I’ve never tried but am interested in. The compelling thing aboutthe Experiment balmis that it’s lightweight and has an oil-gel consistency. I plan to test these over the next few months, so stay tuned to theBeauty Brief. In the meantime, I’ll be stocking up on Slug Balm where I can find it — I’ve spotted some stock atWalmartandCVS.
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New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
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