Should everyone try slugging with petrolatum?

I would not recommend it to everyone. Petrolatum can reduce water loss, but your symptoms, other products, and whether you develop bumps matter. It makes more sense when the underlying products are already tolerated and the main issue is water loss, not an unexplained active reaction.

Slugging is not a universal barrier fix

It is not a treatment for every red or itchy facial condition, and I would not layer it over an irritating routine without reassessing that routine.