The Skin Barrier and What You Need to Know to Preserve It

There is a plethora of information to consider when investing in skincare that will ultimately improve the quality of your skin. What products go together, what products don’t, what products are for this skin-type, what products are not—the list goes on. Just as you should be taking in account the factors I listed above, you should also focus on what products are going to effectively preserve your skin barrier.

Photo by @Chermiti Mohamed on Unsplash

Skin barrier? Yes. Your skin has a barrier, it is the outermost layer of your epidermis that acts as a protective layer from all external environmental hidnerances. If not moisturized thoroughly this layer will lose its resilience. There are many things that can hinder this layer that are not skincare related.

• Frequent sun exposure

• Lack of sleep

• Stress

• Smoking

• Not consuming enough nutrients

These things can all act as a fast track to aging. So protecting the skin barrier comes with slowing down the process of aging. Meaning it is important to use the right skincare, and more important, to avoid skincare that will further inflict damage.

Skincare to avoid includes:

• Too many exfoliants - both chemical and physical

• Harsh cleansers that remove your natural oils - especially if you have dry skin

Strengthening the skin barrier is easy. It requires you to moisturize effectively. If you have dry skin this is especially pertinent. Having a heavier moisturizer that will retain moisture is essential. Try seeking out moisturizers that contain ceramides or hyaluronic acid—the same goes for your sunscreen. Slugging is great for the skin barrier because the petroleum helps lock in moisture.

Other than moisturizing, maintaining a healthy skin pH is also a part of retaining an enriched skin barrier. So try using products that will promote this level of pH. Products like:

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin C - make sure you start with a small amount so you skin can build a tolerance

• Green tea

• Drink lots of water

Making these simple adjustments to your routine can do wonders for your skin. It will help stagnant aging and effectively offer more elasticity to your skin. Who doesn’t want that?