Skin barrier health is the ethos of our skincare brand. Skincare comes and goes with trends, but skin barrier will always be the crux of all skincare products. Without skin barrier health, the skincare products that you crave will either ruin your skin or fail to produce nice glowy skin.
Before we talk about skincare products, we prefer to talk about biology, chemistry, microbiome and your skin.
Skincare is the interaction of various ingredients and chemicals at the right pH levels to supplement your skin’s natural regeneration. Correct - skincare aids your organic skin cells; it does not replace it. The right skincare is about experimentation as each of us is unique. So, your priority should always be:
- understanding your skin condition pre-use of a new skincare product
- finding skincare that has skin barrier protecting properties or use standalone skin barrier protecting skincare products
- monitoring your skin after use of a new skincare product
What is a Skin Barrier and Why is it Important?
Your skin barrier to your body is like the ozone layer to the Earth. It is the outer layer of skin that sits in the stratum corneum, and is made up of dead cells, lipids, proteins and fats. The stratum corneum structure and skin barrier result in an original composition of 50% ceramides, 27% cholesterol, 10% cholesterol esters, 3% cholesterol sulfate and 10% free fatty acids.
This is important to maintain hydration / moisture in the skin, whilst keeping environmental pollutants out. The strength of skin barrier can also vary amongst individuals and change with age.
What are Signs of a Compromised Skin Barrier?
Some signs of a compromised skin barrier can include:
- Inflammation
- Redness
- Dryness
- Itchiness
- Sensitivity
- Excessive water loss, xerosis and infection
What Causes a Damaged Skin Barrier?
A damaged skin barrier can result from two main causes.
A pre-existing skin condition - This can include atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Such skin conditions can reduce the ceramide levels in the skin barrier.
Damage occurring overtime - The barrier can be compromised by using very strong skincare active ingredients without barrier protecting skincare or ingredients, over-exfoliation of skin, lack of sleep or even a decreasing moisture / hydration level in skin. Damaged skin barrier can also occur from environmental factors such as constant exposure to irritants and allergens in industrialised places, extensive use of certain workwear as part of one’s occupation, and geographical atmospheric pollutants.
What Do I Do to Prevent or Repair a Damaged Skin Barrier?
We always preach - prevention is key.
To prevent a damaged skin barrier, you should always look to include specific key ingredients in your skincare routine. These barrier protecting ingredients can include:
- Ceramides
- Oat colloidal
- Hyaluronic acid
- Soothing plant oils
When using strong skincare actives, it is beneficial to use products formulated with the skin barrier protecting ingredients. Alternatively, if you enjoy the multi-step process, it is beneficial to include a step before and after the use of actives that moisturises and hydrates your skin. In particular, look for moisturisers that include emollients that soften the skin and humectants that attract and bind water.
If you have hit a roadblock where your skin barrier is definitely damaged, stop using strong actives, stop exfoliating and increase use of products that contain the barrier protecting ingredients.
