Skin Barrier: What Is It and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

Here's an interesting fact: Your skin is your top part, accounting for roughly 15% of your body weight or about one-seventh of your total body weight. One of the most vital organs in your body, it protects your delicate insides from the harsh outside environment. The skin is made up of a huge, intricate network of different cells, proteins, ceramides, and lipids, but the skin barrier, also known as the skin's natural moisture barrier, is possibly the most important element of all.

What is the Barrier of Your Skin?

The top layer of your skin, known as the skin barrier, protects your face by acting as a barrier. Basically, the entire function of your skin barrier is to keep all the beneficial components of your skin on your skin while protecting it from environmental stresses, irritation, and inflammation (like moisture, moisture, and more moisture).

The stratum corneum, the most superficial layer of your epidermis. Imagine the top bun of a hamburger is what is formally referred to as your skin barrier. A complex network of lipids and cells make up the stratum corneum (skin barrier), which serves as a barrier to maintain the health of your skin.

How Can you Tell if Your Skin's Protective Layer is Damaged?

Since anything from your genetic makeup to your lifestyle can affect the integrity of your skin barrier, it would be practically difficult to describe every possible cause of skin barrier impairment. The main causes of barrier dysfunction include UV radiation, smoking, and prolonged exposure to pollutants. Your skin barrier's health can also be impacted by physical harm, such as that caused by excessive exfoliation, as well as by lifestyle choices including how much stress you are under and how much sleep you get. Consider it like this: Your skin barrier may be disrupted or harmed by any internal or external stressor that causes audible skin changes. By avoiding these stresses, you can preserve the appearance of your skin and its protective layer.

How Can you Maintain a Strong Skin Barrier?

Healing the skin with a basic skincare routine and slathering on rich moisturisers are the keys to a healthy skin barrier. Prior to reintroducing exfoliation once or twice per week, stick to a bland and moisturising routine for at least two to three weeks (in general, even with a healthy skin barrier, you should only use exfoliants three times a week max).

In the morning and at night, wash your face gently. Next, apply a moisturising face serum. Lastly, and most critically, apply a thick, barrier-repairing cream. An occlusive ointment (hello, slugging!) can be used on top if your skin feels tight and dry to seal in all the moisture.

Your skincare regimen should ideally be made up of humectants and ceramide-containing products that repair the skin's barrier. According to me humectants (such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin) "pull water molecules from the dermis toward the epidermis to keep your skin hydrated," but topical ceramides "mimic your skin's moisturising processes to hold onto hydration."

Top 5-Step Procedures For Keeping Your Skin Barrier Strong:

1. Clean up debris and dirt with care: Cleaning is necessary if you want your skin to feel and look its best. By washing your face, you may help keep the dirt, oil, and pollutants from harming your skin's protective layer as they accumulate throughout the day.

2. Use a concentrated facial serum: We advise using a targeted face serum after cleaning and toning your skin, though the formulation you choose should be based on your individual requirements.

3. Ensure Hydration: Your skin can't operate correctly if it is dehydrated, which, as we mentioned above, can lead to the emergence of a variety of skin issues. Use a lightweight face cream, such as our venerable Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane, to moisturise your skin morning and night to keep it hydrated.

4. Use a nourishing face oil: Face oils, especially those that contain antioxidants like Daily Reviving Concentrate, can be a useful addition to your regimen for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Sunflower oil and ginger root essential oil in this midday facial oil protect the skin from oxidative stress and free radical damage.

5. Use SPF to protect your skin: The most crucial element in your daily regimen for maintaining both the physical and aesthetic health of your skin is sunscreen.