Skin Barrier Must Haves
If you want beautiful, smooth glass skin, you’re going to need a healthy skin barrier. Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of skin and is made up mostly of lipids (fats) and proteins. Its purpose is to keep harmful things (like bacteria and allergens) out, and keep moisture in.
Signs Your Skin Barrier is Damaged
Before exploring how to keep your skin barrier healthy, you need to recognize the signs when it’s damaged. Here are some symptoms you may experience:
- Dry and dehydrated skin
- Irritated, red, and sensitive skin
- Acne breakouts
- Redness and inflammation
- Flakiness, itchiness, or peeling
There are a variety of reasons your skin barrier may be suffering.
Over-exfoliation. Using too many exfoliating products (like products with acids, clays, scrubs, citrus acids, and retinol) can strip needed oils and damage the outer layers of skin.. Likewise, exfoliating too frequently can have a similar effect.
Environmental Factors. Extreme weather, air pollution, UV rays, and indoor heating/cooling can affect how well your skin barrier protects.
Stress. Constant stress increases overall inflammation, including inflammation in your skin. This can weaken your skin barrier.
Nutrition Deficiencies. A lack of fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants may mean your body doesn’t have the nutrients available to maintain a strong barrier.
Harsh Products. Allergens, irritants, and strong actives (like retinoids) and strip the natural oils your skin needs to stay soft and hydrated. Use strong skincare products as little as possible, building up your tolerance slowly. You may find you need to cut some ingredients out of your routine completely if they consistently cause reactions.
How to Repair Your Skin Barrier
You’ve recognized that your skin barrier is damaged. It’s time to find skincare products that help repair and protect your barrier, so it can protect your skin in turn. We’ve put together some skin barrier must-haves, depending on the type of skin you have.
Dry Skin
Dry skin lacks natural oils and fats which are critical building blocks for the skin barrier. To replenish those oils, look for skincare products that contain ceramides and fatty acids (often found in plant oils). Nourishing ingredients like shea butter can soften rough skin, while occlusives like squalane seal the skin and prevent moisture loss.
We suggest Some Bi Mi’s Beta Panthenol Repair Cream for dry, damaged skin. This cream feels rich and is super moisturizing, but doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. It contains beta sitosterol and panthenol, both of which are calming and help the skin retain moisture.
Dehydrated Skin
Dehydrated skin lacks water, so repairing your skin barrier will require ingredients that draw water into the skin. Luckily, hyaluronic acid is a star ingredient for doing just that, and is extremely popular and easy to find. Glycerin and aloe vera also help improve hydration levels. To support the barrier while it’s recovering, use a moisturizer with ceramides to keep that water in.
Acne-Prone Skin
If your skin is acne-prone, you need ingredients that will repair your barrier without clogging your pores and won’t feel heavy. Niacinamide is a multifunctional ingredient that not only supports the skin barrier, but also helps to regulate oil production. Hyaluronic acid is a very lightweight hydrator that will infuse skin with moisture without clogging your pores. Ingredients like centella and allantoin are good for your barrier and have the bonus benefits of being calming and anti-inflammatory!
Sensitized Skin
With sensitized skin you’ll want a combination of ingredients that will hydrate skin, but also reduce irritation and inflammation. Colloidal oatmeal is a staple for sensitized skin and has the added effect of being protective. Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are great barrier boosters that are unlikely to cause irritation, while beta glucan and madecassoside (derived from centella) heal and soothe.
It can be difficult to find products for sensitized (or sensitive) skin, so we’re recommending SKIN1004’s Probio-Cica line! These products are designed to repair the skin barrier with ingredients like probiotics, fermented centella extracts, and ceramides. These can be used with various skin types, including those with sensitive skin.
Having healthy skin starts with your skin barrier. It’s not only your first line of defense against external aggressors, but it also helps your skin trap moisture, giving it a healthy glass skin glow. Niasha’s collection of barrier-strengthening skincare is a great place to start if you’re looking for help repairing your skin barrier. Use our handy filters to find products that work best for you!