Skin Barrier Products Take Center Stage
Taking care of your skin is one of the most important preliminary steps in beauty. Without proper skin maintenance your skin can be susceptible to chronic dehydration, accelerated aging, increased breakouts, uneven skin tone, slower skin repair, dull and tired appearance, not to mention your makeup never looks right. If you are beginning to think your beauty routine is no longer cutting it, it could be due to improper care of your skin barrier. People are experiencing more sensitivity, irritation and environmental stressors which is pointing to lack of care of the skin barrier. With all the new product innovations coming out, this is now an easy fix!
What is a Skin Barrier?
A skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin. It is your protective shield. You can harm your skin barrier many way. Some of these ways may sound familiar such as over cleansing or using harsh cleansers. Frequent washing with sulfate-based or high pH cleansers, these strip away the natural oils. Antibacterial soaps and foaming cleansers are also common culprits. Also, over exfoliation with facial scrubs, microdermabrasion along with overuse of retinoids. There are also natural environmental stressors that can also harm the skin such as cold weather, wind, sun, smoke and pollution. Wow, that’s a lot to think about and some are unavoidable. Don’t worry, we will walk you through the solution. But first, let’s see if you are having any issues yet.
Signs your Skin Barrier is compromised.
- Tightness even after moisturizing
- Redness or blotchiness
- Burning or stinging when applying products
- Flaking, peeling or rough texture
- Breakouts or irritation from products you used to tolerate
If this is you keep reading. If not, keep reading to prevent this from happening.
What is the goal of a Skin Barrier product?
The goal of a Skin Barrier product is to protect, strengthen, and restore the skin’s natural barrier so the skin can retain moisture, resist irritation, and function normally. The product should seal in hydration, block the irritants, pollution and bacteria and restore barrier lipids. It will calm and soothe the skin and support natural skin repair. It will allow other skincare active ingredients to work better.
Dr. Heather D. Rogers writes extensively on skin barrier care and one of her top talking points is fewer steps and gentler products when repairing a damaged barrier.
What form does a Skin Barrier product come in?
Most skin barrier products come in the form of a cream, lotion or ointment. If you are unsure what you should use, it mostly depends on the current condition of the skin.
Severely compromised or dry skin – use ointments or balms
Daily maintenance or mild sensitivity – use creams or lotions
Professional/post treatment protection: use sprays, films, or occlusive ointments
What Ingredients should I look for in a Skin Barrier product?
This is where it can get a little confusing. Some of these ingredients seem so hard to understand so let us try to make it a little easier. The top 3 ingredients you need to look for are:
1- Ceramides – these are lipids that make up a large part of the skin’s outer layer. Lipids help to seal in moisture and protect against environmental irritants. Look on the label for Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP
2- Hyaluronic Acid – this is key for a strong barrier. It will hold the water in the skin, boosting hydration and preventing moisture loss. Look on the label for Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Sodium PCA
3- Fatty Acids & Cholesterol – this helps replenish lipids and build the barrier. They work alongside the Ceramides to restore structure and resilience. Ingredients to look for Linoleic acid, Oleic acid, Cholesterol
There are other top ingredients such as Niacinamide, Panthenol, and Squalane but we don’t want to overwhelm you. This is a great start to understanding the ingredients.
Are Skin Barrier products for everyone?
Yes, it is never too early to start protecting and feeding the skin barrier. Everyone is stressing the skin barrier daily without even realizing it.
Help point me in the direction of some good Dermatologist recommended Skin Barrier products.
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Moisturizing Cream - $50
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer - $11.49
The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support System - $17
Going to skincare stores such as Blue Mercury, Sephora or even asking your esthetician or dermatologist is the best first steps on addressing the skin and getting the right products for you. Keeping in mind, skin care is not a fix one fix all solution. It needs to be adapted to your needs like most everything in life. Sometimes trial and error is the only way, with a little help from an expert. And need I say, which you have probably heard way too many times, drink lots of water and eat a healthy diet.
