“Skin barrier repair” may be a trending skincare topic on social media, (it’s garnered around 2 billion views on TikTok alone!) but it’s far from a new concept. In fact, having a robust, well-functioning skin barrier is the foundation of healthy skin. But keeping it strong is another story! Environmental stressors and other outside factors (like using too many skincare actives or going overboard with exfoliation) can weaken the skin barrier and cause some pretty uncomfortable symptoms.
But how do you know if your skin barrier is weakened? And what can you do to fix it? We’re answering your top skin barrier repair questions below. Plus, find expert-backed tips and nourishing product recommendations to heal and prevent a damaged skin barrier.
What Is The Skin Barrier? (And Is Yours Healthy?)
But first, let’s dive into what your skin barrier actually is. Your skin barrier – also referred to as the moisture barrier or acid mantle – is the outermost protective layer of the epidermis or stratum corneum. It’s made up of dead cells, lipids, proteins, and fats arranged like a brick wall to lock in moisture and protect your skin from environmental stressors like chemicals, pollutants, and bacteria.
This barrier is our skin’s primary defense system for keeping the good stuff (hello, moisture) in and the bad stuff out. Think of your skin barrier as your very own armor! When it’s strong, it helps give your skin a plump, healthy glow. But when that protective barrier gets broken down, your skin is at risk for dehydration, inflammation, irritation, and even infection.
Signs Your Skin Barrier Is Damaged
A weakened or damaged skin barrier can present itself in multiple ways. Here are the top signs your skin barrier needs some attention:
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Increased Sensitivity: According to studies, skin sensitivity and skin barrier damage are often linked. This can result in redness, itchiness, hyperactivity, and other visible signs of irritation. Experiencing a stinging or burning sensation whenever you apply a moisturizer that your skin typically loves is another tell-tale sign of barrier damage.
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Dull, Dehydrated Skin: When your skin barrier is weakened, your skin loses its ability to retain hydration. The result is dull, dehydrated skin that looks and feels tight or itchy. More pronounced fine lines could also indicate a damaged skin barrier.
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Redness and Inflammation: It’s not uncommon for skin to look redder or to experience inflamed rashes as a result of a damaged skin barrier—especially if you deal with skin conditions like rosacea or eczema.
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Hyperpigmentation: An inflamed skin barrier can trigger excess melanin production and lead to dark spots and uneven skin tone, especially for those with deeper complexions.
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Rosacea, Eczema, or Dermatitis: While these conditions have a genetic component, outside aggressors can cause them to flare up.
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Acne Breakouts and Rougher Skin Texture: Skin with a compromised skin barrier will often feel rough, scaly, bumpy, or even flaky. You may also notice a rise in breakouts and clogged pores as your skin produces more oil to combat the excessive dryness.
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Skin Infections: Because a damaged skin barrier allows bacteria, viruses, and fungi to penetrate the skin more easily, your chances of getting a skin infection are much higher. Look out for rashes and symptoms like pain, swelling, redness, itchiness, or pus.
Why Is My Skin Barrier Damaged?
Many factors can contribute to a damaged skin barrier. Often, it will be obvious why your skin barrier is damaged—like if you used too strong of an exfoliant the night before—while other times it can be hard to pinpoint.
Environmental stressors like wind, UV radiation, pollution, extreme temperatures (hot or cold), and excessive sun exposure are known to weaken the skin barrier. Stress, harsh skincare products, overwashing or exfoliating, smoking, and lack of sleep can also impact the quality of your skin barrier. Individuals with dry or sensitive skin types are naturally more susceptible to moisture barrier damage and should take extra caution not to overstrip their skin.
The good news is that if your skin barrier is damaged, there are ways to heal it. Ahead, we’re sharing 6 practical ways to repair your skin barrier.
How To Repair a Damaged Skin Barrier
Skip The Skincare Actives
For skin barrier repair, it’s important to remove actives from your skincare routine until it’s fully healed. This includes ingredients like retinoids, exfoliants (physical and chemical), and vitamin C, as well as drying alcohols or strong fragrances that can cause further irritation. Once your skin is healthy again, you can slowly reintroduce them into your routine.
Opt For A Gentle Cleanser
When your skin feels tight and sensitive, the last thing you want to do is start your routine with a cleanser that leaves your skin feeling even more tight and sensitive. To support your skin barrier, opt for a gentle, pH-balanced, fragrance-free face wash that doesn’t strip or irritate your skin. Creamy formulas—with ingredients like ceramides, colloidal oatmeal, allantoin, and fatty acids—will be gentler and more moisturizing than foams or gels.
Use Nourishing Ingredients
To speed up your skin barrier repair, we recommend creating a morning and evening skincare routine centered around soothing, nourishing products. A compromised skin barrier doesn’t retain moisture like normal—it needs a little extra help! Using a combination of humectants and emollients in your routine will help to visibly reduce irritation, improve hydration, and restore skin integrity. Here’s the lowdown:
Humectants provide intensive hydration by drawing water from the air or the skin’s surface to the deeper layers of the skin. Incorporate humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, peptides, snow mushroom, and aloe vera to help soothe, plump, and restore hydration levels.
Emollients are ingredients that form a protective film on your skin, helping trap moisture and prevent water loss. They soothe, soften, and make skin extra supple. Look for emollients like squalane, plant-based oils, shea butter, and fatty acids (including stearic and palmitic acid) to nourish and support the skin barrier.
Don’t Skip The Essence
For most of us, a skin barrier repair routine needs more than a face wash and moisturizer. We highly recommend adding a hydrating essence, like our TremellaGlo Essence, into your morning and evening skincare routine to give your skin an extra dose of barrier-supporting ingredients.
A hydrating essence rich in humectants is essential for rebuilding the moisture barrier and improving skin resilience. Our formula contains snow mushroom extract, a hydrating superhero rich in polysaccharides and antioxidants that support moisture retention, soothe inflammation, promote healing, and protect the skin barrier. It’s also rich in other science-backed hydrators like glycerin, allantoin, and hyaluronic acid, which are amazing for dry, damaged skin.
Ceramides Are Essential
Another key ingredient to add to your skin barrier repair routine is ceramides. Ceramides are the natural lipids that make up nearly half of the skin’s outermost layer and are essential for shielding your skin against moisture loss and environmental damage. Using a ceramide-rich moisturizer will mimic the skin’s natural ceramides, helping repair the skin barrier to its normal function.
Simplify Your Skincare
The trick to healing a damaged skin barrier is sticking to a simple skincare routine for around one to four weeks, depending on how your skin is feeling. Less is best here! Keep your routine minimal and focus only on using barrier-repairing products.
Morning Routine: We recommend skipping a morning face wash and just rinsing with lukewarm water, followed by a hydrating essence to soothe and hydrate. Reach for a reparative moisturizer to lock in that hydration, then layer it with an SPF to protect against sun damage.
Evening Routine: At night, start with an oil-based cleanser or micellar water to remove any sunscreen or makeup. Follow that with a gentle face wash that won’t strip or irritate your skin. Rinse with lukewarm water. While the skin is still damp, apply a barrier-boosting essence followed by a hydrating serum. Consider using a more intense moisturizer in your evening routine to accelerate barrier recovery.
Pro Tip: For even more nourishment, apply our Collagen Face Mask as the final step in your skincare routine before bed. Key ingredient low molecular collagen sinks quickly into the skin to improve hydration and elasticity. It also contains powerful humectants, emollients, antioxidants like niacinamide, and a ceramide complex to help bring your barrier back to full health. Leave on overnight for best results!
