How many times have you tried a new product on your skin only to realize just how badly it irritates or burns your skin hours later? Yep, we’ve been there and done that! With the latest trend of introducing retinol and acids into skincare routine, chances are, most of us have encountered a broken skin barrier at some point in our skincare journey while trying to keep up with the trend. We’re here to help you understand how to effectively restore the skin barrier. Let’s dive in!

What is skin barrier damage?

An impairment to the skin barrier occurs when the lipid matrix filled with fatty acids, cholesterol and ceramides that holds that cells together is compromised. When this happens, irritants or germs can penetrate the skin easily, causing chaos where things that your skin is normally not irritated start to cause irritation, redness and inflammation. A good way to understand the concept of the skin barrier is to imagine your skin barrier as the bouncers at your favourite nightclub where they check everyone’s IDs before deciding who gets in and who stays out. When the skin barrier is damaged, the bouncers stop checking everyone’s IDs and eventually everyone walks into the club with booze, creating havoc. 

How to repair the skin barrier?

The most important step to repair the skin barrier is to understand what your skin really needs, rather than being influenced by what you see on commercials and advertisements. Glowing and radiant skin is achievable when you take care of your skin barrier well.

Simplify your skincare routine

First and foremost, ask yourself the core question "What am I looking to achieve in my skincare routine?" A goal-oriented skincare routine will help you narrow down the number of products you need to achieve a glowing complexion. It will be effective, simpler and more economical in the long run. Listen to your skin, rather than trying to include all the skincare products that you see on your instagram feeds.

Choose a gentle skin cleanser

An ideal gentle cleanser is one that helps remove impurities such as sebum, makeup, sunscreen and dirt effectively without stripping your skin of its natural oils. The Scinic Avocado Cleansing Foam is a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser with a creamy texture that helps balance and moisturize the skin.

Consider treatments and moisturizers that are designed to strengthen the skin barrier

This is the key part of your goal-oriented skincare routine where you focus on treating the skin with ingredients that are designed to restore the skin barrier. There are many serums for skin barrier and skin protectants in the market which can be overwhelming for many. Start by looking at some ingredients that have been heavily researched and proven with positive results. These ingredients include ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, peptides, collagen and petrolatum. Our favourite treatments include the Skin Barrier Reishi Serum from Vegreen, Dr.Ceuracle Hyal Reyouth Ampoule, as well as the Mary & May 6 Peptide Complex Serum.

Choose a multifunctional moisturizer

A humectant functions to increase the moisture level within the skin by drawing water from the environment or enhancing water absorption from the top layer of the skin. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, propylene and butylene glycol are great examples of humectant.Emollients on the other hand, are designed to soften the skin. Some examples of emollients include shea butter, cocoa butter, stearyl alcohol, and petroleum jelly. Choose a multifaceted moisturizer that encompasses both of these categories to gain a more solid protection to help rebuild your skin barrier. If you are unsure where to start, may we suggest the Dr.Ceuracle Cica Regen 70 Cream which is a fragrance-free moisturizer that has both glycerin, a humectant and shea butter, an emollient in its formulation.

Don't forget the sunscreen

Applying sunscreen should be a part of your daily skincare routine and even more so when you have a damaged skin barrier. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF30 that is free of fragrance and irritating ingredients. While the new generation of organic filters are hypoallergenic for most skin, you may opt for a mineral sunscreen instead while your skin is recovering. Whichever option you choose, be sure to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours as necessary.

Treat the inflammation

Skip the exfoliating products or eliminate skin treatments that are likely to cause sensitivity to your skin. Return to your basic skincare routine to restore your skin barrier - cleanse, moisturize and apply sunscreen. It is always best to consult a dermatologist for expert opinion on how to manage and treat active inflammation, especially when you have inflammatory skin issues such as dermatitis, psoriasis or rosacea.

Takeaway

The frustration and challenges that stems from a damaged skin barrier can affect how we feel about ourselves. It is important to be kind to yourself and celebrate the little things about your skin. Remember that it is possible for everyone to achieve radiant and glowing skin regardless of your age and ethnicity.