An Improved Slugging Solution: Hydration Meets Anti-Aging

Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm for slugging in your skincare routine

Written by Founder, Amir Karam MD

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If you’re spending 8 hours with a product on your face, shouldn’t it be doing more than just sitting there?

This was the question that led me to develop Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm.

In the world of skincare, amongst the constant stream of trends, “slugging” has taken the beauty world by storm for its “overnight success”—and no, I don’t mean overnight success in terms of rapid popularity... I mean overnight success in terms of immediate results. 

You slug a layer of product on at night and wake up with a dewey glow by morning. After a night of slugging, your skin is visibly softer, plumper, and more hydrated. This immediate payoff is what draws so many to add slugging into their routines.

However, the more I learned about slugging, it became increasingly obvious that traditional slugging products had significant limitations. I saw a need for an updated slugging product--one that delivered benefits beyond basic hydration, offering real anti-aging properties and comprehensive skin health improvements.

It was time to revolutionize this age-old practice.

What is Slugging?

Slugging involves applying a thick layer of an occlusive product, like petroleum jelly to your face before bed, to create a seal on your skin while you sleep. 

This physical barrier minimizes transepidermal water loss (TEWL), helping your skin retain moisture, rather than evaporating from your body overnight.

This is important step to consider adding to your routine, because water loss is a key factor contributing to dry, dehydrated skin. 

When your skin is dehydrated, it’s less plump, less elastic, and more prone to fine lines and irritation. Slugging keeps your skin hydrated and supple. 


But here’s the thing: while traditional slugging products do a great job of locking in moisture, they don’t actively contribute much beyond that. 

Debunking the Anti-Aging Myth of Slugging

One common misconception about slugging is its purported anti-aging benefits. While slugging helps with hydration, it doesn’t address deeper, cellular-level changes.

Biological aging is a fundamental process that results from decreased collagen production, increased pigment production, and ultimately causes the skin to become thinner, with more fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration. 

These changes are happening at the cellular level and are not influenced by simply improving skin hydration and preventing transepidermal water loss, which has been the primary role of slugging… until now.

This is where Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm comes in. I wanted to take the concept of slugging and formulate a new, innovative product that not only locks in moisture, but also enhances skin’s firmness, combats signs of aging, and promotes overall skin health with powerful, nourishing ingredients. 


Instead of creating a passive barrier with no added benefits, Enrich is formulated with active ingredients that go to work while you sleep. 

What Sets Enrich Apart from Traditional Slugging Products

At KaramMD, we took the concept of slugging and reimagined it with Enrich, a formula designed to not only lock in moisture but also address the shortcomings of conventional products by incorporating advanced skincare benefits that elevate your routine and deliver superior results.

01.

Active Anti-Aging Benefits

Traditional slugging products fall short when addressing biological aging concerns, focusing solely on hydration. 

Enrich bridges this gap by incorporating active anti-aging ingredients, like Bakuchiol, a gentle yet potent plant-based retinol alternative. Bakuchiol stimulates natural collagen production, smooths fine lines, improves skin texture, and promotes an even skin tone. 

Enrich actively works to enhance your skin's overall firmness and youthful appearance. It's a unique slugging product that not only deeply hydrates your skin, but adds to your anti-aging efforts too.

02.

High-Quality, Natural Ingredients

Traditional slugging products often rely on mineral oil and petroleum jelly, which are by-products of the refining process used to create gasoline and other petroleum products. 

Instead of using highly processed ingredients, Enrich is formulated with natural plant and seed oils, which offer superior skincare and anti-aging benefits. 

Plant oils are rich in omegas and antioxidants, which deeply hydrate the skin while repairing and strengthening the skin’s barrier. This not only helps to protect against environmental damage but also provides the skin with the nourishment it needs to stay healthy, resilient, and youthful.

03.

Breathable Barrier

Traditional slugging products do not allow your skin to breathe. While they lock in moisture, they are also stopping the flow of oxygen to your skin, which it needs for healthy detoxification and repair. This is the reason many traditional slugging products lead to clogged pores due to trapped sweat, sebum and impurities.

Enrich solves this problem by forming a breathable barrier that allows your skin to receive the oxygen it needs, ensuring it stays fresh and balanced.

Our lightweight, balm is non-comedogenic meaning it won’t clog your pores, ensuring that your skin remains healthy and vibrant, free from the drawbacks of traditional occlusive products.

04.

Mess-Free Experience

One common complaint about traditional slugging products is their greasy texture, which can actually ruin your clothing, pillows, and sheets. 

Enrich solves this problem with a formula that won’t just sit on your skin, but will quickly absorb, delivering rich nutrients and active anti-aging ingredients in the process.

This separates Enrich from other slugging products, making it a practical and safe solution for everyday use, without the greasy mess. Achieve the benefits of slugging, skip the oil stains.

05.

Soothe and Repair with Antioxidants

Traditional slugging products do little for sun exposure beyond basic hydration. Enrich, on the other hand, has become a skin savior when it comes to sun exposure. 

Enrich is packed with antioxidant ingredients, which assist in sun protection, prevent skin damage, and support your body’s natural healing and repair process.

If you spent too much time in the sun, Enrich’s antioxidant-rich formula helps to neutralize free radicals generated by UV exposure, protecting your skin from long-term damage, while also soothing inflammation and helping to restore lost moisture. 

Bonus: A Solution for Sun Damaged Skin

When you spend too much time in the sun, your skin can suffer from more than just a sunburn--it can lead to long-term sun damage in the form of hyperpigmentation.

The sunburn also damages your skin barrier, the outermost layer that protects you from harm. When this barrier is compromised, your skin becomes red, inflamed, and loses moisture rapidly, making it more susceptible to further damage and irritation. 

Enrich

$100.00

SHOP ENRICH

Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm is your go-to for sun-scorched skin. It steps in to calm red, painful inflammation with soothing ingredients that can help to relieve that initial discomfort.

Enrich also supports your skin’s natural healing process by restoring the moisture barrier and providing essential nutrients that your skin needs to heal and repair itself.

Sun damage is one of the biggest accelerators of aging, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. By incorporating Enrich into your routine, you’re not just re-hydrating your skin, you’re actively fighting those signs of aging at the same time. 

Our Enrich balm is a perfect addition to your skincare routine if you want to maintain your healthy glow, and minimize overall sun damage.


Is Slugging Good for Your Skin Type?

Slugging for Acne-Prone Skin

Acne-prone skin demands careful product selection to avoid triggering breakouts. Traditional occlusives containing mineral oil can suffocate the skin, trapping oil and bacteria that often lead to more acne. Enrich, on the other hand, allows the skin to detoxify overnight and promotes healthy cell turnover, helping to prevent clogged pores for clearer, healthier skin.

Slugging for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is prone to irritation and often reacts poorly to harsh ingredients or heavy occlusive barriers. Traditional slugging products can exacerbate these issues by trapping heat and clogging pores. Enrich offers a solution with gentle, soothing ingredients and a breathable formula to nuture and support the skin barrier to minimize flare-ups.

Slugging for Dry Skin

Dry skin needs intense moisture retention, but traditional products often provide only temporary relief. Enrich, on the other hand, is packed with plant oils, lipids, and ceramides, which not only lock in moisture, but also repair the skin’s natural barrier, offering a more resilient skin surface for lasting hydration and a healthy glow.

Slugging for Oily Skin

Oily skin often feels heavy and greasy under traditional slugging products. Instead of relying on highly processed oils that lead to congestion, Enrich provides a natural, lightweight alternative that is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores, and uses fast-absorbing oils so your skin feels refreshed and hydrated, not overly oily.


Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm is formulated to meet the needs of every skin type, making it the ultimate slugging solution.



Why You Need Enrich in Your Skincare Routine

Adding slugging to your nighttime skincare routine can yield impressive benefits for your skin. 

With Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm, you can experience these benefits while also addressing specific skin concerns like sun damage, dryness, and aging—these are all realities we face, but with the right products, you can mitigate their effects and promote healthier, more resilient skin. 


It’s time to move on from messy, outdated slugging methods, and embrace a skincare solution that truly does it all:

  • Deep, Lasting Hydration: Locks in moisture for smoother, softer skin.
  • Anti-Aging: Reduces the appearance of fine lines, firms skin, balances skin tone.
  • Enhanced Skin Barrier: Supports and strengthens your skin’s natural protective barrier.
  • Non-Greasy: Provides all the benefits of slugging without the stains.
  • Non-Comedogenic: Formulated to breathe and prevent clogged pores.
  • Clinically tested: Proven results based on 4-week third party clinical and consumer perception studies of 30 men & women ages 35 - 65.
- 76% of subjects showed highly significant improvement in skin barrier
- 82% of subjects showed highly significant improvement in skin moisture
- 94% of subjects showed highly significant improvement in skin elasticity

Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm: The Solution to Slugging

While traditional slugging has its benefits, it also has significant drawbacks that can make you question whether it is worthwhile or not.

Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm is modern solution to slugging. It combines the overnight transformation of deep hydration with the long-lasting benefits of anti-aging ingredients and antioxidants that traditional products currently lack.

It’s a product I’m really proud of. I’ve seen work wonders from everyday anti-aging, to assisting in my office when it comes to post-treatment and post-operative care. It is gentle, but packed with powerful ingredients, and is the ultimate hydrator: nourishing and rich, but lightweight and emollient. The dewey glow it brings to everyone who uses it is undeniable.

Slugging is a highly beneficial step to include in your evening skincare routine. It not only helps with hydration, but also enhances your skincare routine by creating a protective barrier that seals in your active ingredients. This prevents product evaporation, allowing ingredients to penetrate deeper and work more effectively. This makes Enrich a perfect cherry on top of the Trifecta skincare system. 

Enrich is more than just a moisturizer; it’s a multi-purpose balm that offers unparalleled skin barrier benefits, making it an essential addition to any skincare routine.

Whether you’re looking to heal, protect, or rejuvenate your skin, Enrich is the skincare ally you need.

So, why settle for a product that just sits on your skin when you can have one that truly makes a difference? Try Enrich Breathable Barrier Balm and experience the transformation for yourself.

Amir Karam MD

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Founder / Creator of KaramMD Skin

Dr. Amir Karam is a renowned facial cosmetic surgeon and an authority in his field. With over two decades of experience helping patients achieve a younger, refreshed appearance. In addition to surgical procedures that sculpt a youthfully-defined facial shape, Dr. Karam takes the quality of the skin into account.

2 comments

V

I have several questions:
1. How long after applying the Trifecta skincare products do I apply Enrich?
2 Do I rub Enrich in?
3. How many nights each week do I need to use Enrich to be effective?
4. Is Enrich useful to apply on the nights I use Trifecta and Retin A. If so long after using Retin A, do I apply enrich?

Thank you so much for actually answering questions.
———
KaramMD Skin replied:
Hi V—Great questions, we would be happy to answer those for you!

1. There is a general rule of thumb in skincare with active ingredients (like those in Illuminate/ Trifecta) to let them absorb for 10 minutes before applying any final moisturizing layer, but this is just a recommendation, and if you apply it right after, that’s okay too. 2. Yes, you can rub in Enrich, but you do not need to keep massaging it in until it fully absorbs. It is a thick layer and the oils will generally sit on top of your skin at first, and will continue to absorb on thier own. This is what makes Enrich a unique formula (that can also be used during the day if you want a dewey glow), because they absorb quickly leaving no sticky residue. So just apply it until you feel you have full coverage, and let it work the rest of the way into your skin on its own. 3. Everybody’s skin is unique, so this answer might depend on your skin type… for exmaple, if you have dry skin that feels tight after you use active ingredients, you can apply Enrich every night to help with hydration. If you have more oily skin, you may only need to use it a couple nights a week for added softness, as needed. As seasons change, so does your skin, so your frequency might change too—in summer months when you are experiencing more sun, or winter months when you are getting dry, chapped skin, you may find your skin craves more moisture and you want to bump up your usage. People with more mature skin, or who live in dry climates might need it more often than those who have live in humid climates… but the benefits will serve all skin types, year round, so we say always listen to your skin and use it when you feel you need a little boost of hydration, however often that may be. It is safe to use it every night, if that feels good for you. 4. Yes, Enrich can be a nice, soothing balance to drying actives like Retin-A, and we created it for our Trifecta users who requested to have an added moisturizing layer to top off thier routine. If you can wait 10 minutes for your products to fully absorb, that would be ideal, but again, that is just a recommendation. If you apply it right after Trifecta, you will still get the same benefits of added hydration, actives, and softness by applying Enrich and leaving it on overnight.

We love to help our customers better understand our products, so thank you for taking the time to ask these important Enrich questions. We hope this helps you and anyone else looking to incorporate this step into thier skincare routines! We are always eager and happy to help, and hope you love your products and your experience with them. We’re here if you need anything else—Enjoy!

Wendy Wright

Dear Dr. Karam,
I love your skin products and what they have done for my skin. As a 60 year young lady I have tried many products and find your Trifecta line to be wonderful. Though I can only purchase when I can afford.
My questions are:
How long does the container of Enrich last?

Do you apply last with the Trifecta
line or apply only by itself?

How far out would you be with making an appointment for a make over?

I look forward to the opportunity to meet you in person and discuss a beautiful makeover when the time and money is feasible for me.
Hopefully (BEFORE) my 63rd birthday. 🥳
Thank you for answering my questions and I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Wendy
———
KaramMD Skin replied:
Hi Wendy—We are thrilled to hear about your success with Trifecta, congratulations on your skincare journey! We think you will love Enrich to add to your routine too. Yes, it would be the final step, after Illuminate. It’s difficult to estimate how long it lasts, because this varies for everyone. Some people use a little both morning and evening for antioxidant protection, some use it for slugging every night, and others only as needed when their skin is feeling a little dry. We recommend you check out the latest How to Use Enrich article in the KaramMD Journal for more insight into Enrich. But in any case, a little goes a long way and each Enrich bottle should last you a couple months. We hope you give it a try! As for the surgical inquiry, please email customerservice@karammdskin.com or check out drkaram.com to get redirected to someone who can answer that for you. Thank you for taking time to read the Journal and share your experience with us. We appreciate you!

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