How To Fix Your Skin Barrier?
When it comes to having the best radiant skin, knowledge about your skin is key. The more you know about how your skin is built, the better you can be at caring for it. If you are feeling like you have lackluster skin, knowing how to work with your skin cell barrier is key to help your face glow year round and also keep it healthy, too. In this one, we’re diving deep into how to care for your skin barrier.
What is exactly crucial to make sure you have the barrier possible to protect your skin? You’ll want to share this blog with your friends, because I’m going to teach you how to care for your skin like a beauty pro!
What is your skin barrier?
I want you to think of your skin as having multiple layers. Your “skin barrier” is the outermost layer that boasts some very tough skin cells. These bad boys are made up of cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids.
Your skin barrier is also known as the stratum corneum, which protects you from all the harmful toxins and environmental factors you are exposed to every day (this is why I stress sunblock ALL THE TIME). Your specific barrier guarantees that your body keeps hydrated because without it, water would completely escape from it. Isn’t that so wild? Your skin barrier keeps you alive and protected from all the things you can definitely live without. So when it comes to caring for it, you should never cut corners!
What you can do to protect your skin barrier?
I want to share how you can use certain products to preserve your skin barrier. There are daily habits and the surrounding environment that affects this part of your body, too.
There are several factors that can influence how healthy your skin barrier is, no matter how often you slather on that moisturizer. Think of the things like dry or too humid air, too much sun exposure, contact with chemicals and your daily stress that affect the health of your skin. Have you ever noticed if you live in a cold climate and vacation somewhere warm and come back to the harsh cold, how incredibly itchy or dry your skin can become? This is due to the environment change shifting from hot to cold. Tall tale signs that your skin barrier is being negatively affected, is when you’re experiencing anything from itchiness to acne. You can also experience discolored patches bacterial infections due to this type of damage.
Years ago, I suffered from tinea versicolor and when you notice anything funky going on with your skin, there could be a chance that its barrier is being messed with.
Sharing all the products you’ll want in your corner for a healthy skin barrier – for life.
A Go-To Facial Oil
When it comes to supporting your skin barrier, nothing works quite as well as adding an oil to your daily regimen. I love a facial oil because they contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that give that barrier a helpful boost. Avocado oil, coconut oil, black current oil, and sunflower oil are all excellent oils to add to your skincare routine if you’re looking to prioritize your skin cell barrier. All of these ingredients contain moisturizing properties and antioxidants that all contribute to toughening up that barrier, too. If you have never tried adding an oil, especially in the dead of winter, your skin will thank you!
I absolutely love All Bright Brightening Facial Oil which contains a stellar lineup of nourishing ingredients that make caring for your skin barrier super easy. This facial oil is packed with avocado oil, black current oil and of course some brightening vitamin c. This oil is great to reduce redness and boasts serious anti-inflammatory properties.
You can apply the All Bright Oil as a finishing touch to your skincare routine. I use 4-6 drops am and pm, and you’ll be amazed how a little bit goes a long way. You’ll be amazed at how much more hydrated your skin feels after using a facial oil on the regular. I’ve been loving the “slugging trend” of using a generous amount of facial oil before bed to wake up glowing and to give some extra love to our skin barriers, too. I also call this the glazed donut look!
Use A Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Hyaluronic Acid is absolutely e v e r y t h i n g
Like we need another reason to love HA, it’s truly a hydrating powerhouse. I feel hyaluronic acid saves the day (again) when it comes to protecting your skin barrier. Not only is this ingredient safe for sensitive skin, it is also incredibly effective at strengthening your barrier. I always like using a serum and/or moisturizer that is packed with moisturizing factors. Hyaluronic acid will help reduce the amount of water loss on your skin throughout the day. HA also helps protect you against those yucky free radicals and environmental factors.
I have just the line for you if you experience sensitive skin but also want it to contain hyaluronic acid that will help take your skincare game to the next level. From toner to moisturizer, adding these gems into your routine will keep your skin plump and your barrier strong – yes please!
HA otherwise known as hyaluronic serum is known for its benefits to help treat dry, sensitive skin - this has been a godsend for my sensitive acne prone skin. As you age, you want to try to incorporate HA to help and save dry, mature aging skin. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a carbohydrate molecule that can hold a thousand times its weight in water, and is naturally found in our skin to retain moisture and keep it hydrated. It is a humectant, which means that it acts as a moisture magnet, extracting water from the environment and delivering it to the cells. When you add in a good clean product that incorporates HA, plus a serum that contains same, it can be a game changer to your skin. It’s important to note, serums go on after you’ve cleansed and toned, and before you moisturize. Serums including HA truly pack a punch and are usually the most potent in terms of ingredients in your 4-step regimen - they are typically the most expensive too. Use it in a serum and underneath a moisturizing cream to ensure the best hydration for your skin barrier.
In addition to a face serum, I really love the Clean Swipe Hyaluronic Lip Balm that’s packed with hyaluronic acid.
Nourishing and Hydrating Cleansers
You never want to step out of the shower and feel like your skin is squeaky clean. A lot of cleansers can be really drying in reality, which is a cruel reality when not using a safer brand, and can actually strip your skin of the moisture when you think or believe it is indeed helping hydrate. When we use a cleanser that is actually drying your skin, it is only going to deplete your skin of the moisture it needs and damage your barrier.
We want to reach for a gentle facial cleanser without fragrance or harsh chemicals that will never strip your skin. You can access if your cleanser is actually drying, because it will feel tight afterward. This is an easy indication that the product you’re using is too harsh for your skin and barrier. The cleansers I love are ultra-nourishing and are really great for sensitive skin.
Use Sunscreen
Do I really need to worry about sun protection every day? Yes! In the cooler months, the sun's rays may not feel as warm or strong on your skin, it’s ultraviolet (UV) rays that break down your skin cells at a faster rate regardless of the season. Regardless of the season, you still need to protect yourself from the UV rays. You want to avoid stressing your skin as much as possible, which can affect your moisture barrier. So lather up with SPF every single day. Period. No excuses.
I recommend using a lightweight SPF every single morning as part of your beauty regimen. Or, if you like more of BB cream or tinted moisturizer, reach for a tinted moisturizer that contains sun protection instead of your regular foundation. Using SPF daily will make a gigantic difference when it comes to the proper maintenance of your skin barrier and will help stave off more sun damage and help you looking youthful for years to come.
Use Sunscreen
Do I really need to worry about sun protection year round? Yes! While the sun's rays may not feel as warm or strong on your skin during the winter, its ultraviolet (UV) rays break down your skin cells at a faster rate regardless of the season. The days may be shorter, and you may not be outside as much, you still need to protect yourself from the UV rays. You want to avoid stressing your skin as much as possible, which can affect your moisture barrier. So lather up with SPF every single day. Period. No excuses.
My Top Skin Barrier Protecting Routine
Step 1: Reach for your cleanser of choice. One pump or a dime sized amount of the product is all you need to get those pores clean without compromising that precious barrier. Once you’ve finished cleansing, always gently pat your skin dry.
Step 2: Use a toner that is hydrating instead of drying. I know how tempting if you are experiencing a breakout, to grab a harsh toner, but typically these do more damage in the long run. Instead, grab something that doesn’t compromise your skin barrier. Something like our hyaluronic acid option here would be great!
Step 3: Follow up with serum and/or moisturizer. If you’re on the dryer side, using a serum first will go a long way in quenching your skin and getting that moisture barrier back on track. This is my ultimate favorite to help with adding in clean, nourishing moisture. After you have applied the serum, add a bit of moisturizer, which will soak right into your skin!
Step 4: Lastly, add in your facial oil! This is applied on top of your moisturizer to help keep your skin barrier in check and make it stronger than ever!
My Full Favorite Regimen for Fixing Your Skin Barrier Here >>>
Fix Your Skin Barrier Regime with Eye Cream Here >>>
Afterthoughts:
I’ve used all the products mentioned above for over three years now, and I can safely say that I can 100% recommend them. I even used all of these throughout my health journey. It’s one thing to call products safe, but a whole other thing when they’re safe and actually work. To shop more clean products and add them to your cart, click here.
If you don’t have a skincare routine you love, fill out this quick questionnaire, and I’ll email you back with my recommendations for your skin!
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