Beef Up: How to Strengthen Your Skin Barrier

It can be a harsh world out there. You never know when a random internet comment, unfortunate selfie cam angle, or acne flareup can ruin your day.

 

That's why for everyday interactions people set boundaries. Boundaries are personal limits that individuals set to protect their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. A fortified fortress wall around you to protect your peace. Well, your skin is its own protective boundary, called the Skin Barrier.

 

The Great Skin Barrier

The Skin Barrier, composed of the outermost epidermis layer, is a protective shield that safeguards your body from external threats, including pathogens, UV radiation, and dehydration.

 

Your skin barrier also helps regulate body temperature, facilitates sensory perception, and contributes to your body's immune defense. Relying on a water repellent lipid barrier and slightly acidic pH also keeps out harmful microorganisms. Maintaining a healthy skin barrier is vital for your overall skin health.

 

But what do you do if you have a damaged skin barrier or worse a broken skin barrier? We'll go through how to identify and repair skin barrier problems.

 

How to Spot a Damaged Skin Barrier

First, how do you know if you have a problem?

 

And what are some damaged skin barrier signs? A damaged skin barrier can manifest through various signs and symptoms. These indicators may vary in severity, and experiencing one or more of these signs may suggest an issue with your skin's protective barrier.

 

Common signs of a compromised skin barrier include:

• Dryness: One of the most common signs is dry or dehydrated skin. When your skin barrier is damaged, it loses its ability to retain moisture, resulting in dry, flaky, or rough skin. Flakiness and peeling can occur, leading to the shedding of dead skin cells more rapidly than normal.
• Redness and Inflammation: A damaged barrier can lead to increased sensitivity and redness. You may notice persistent skin irritation, itchiness, or a burning sensation. Inflammatory skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis can worsen when the skin barrier is compromised. These conditions often involve red, itchy, and inflamed patches of skin.
• Increased Sensitivity: Skin becomes more sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature changes, wind, and exposure to various topical products. You may experience a sensation of tightness in the skin, especially after cleansing or exposure to harsh weather conditions.
• Texture and Blemishes: A damaged barrier can disrupt the skin's natural balance, your skin may develop an uneven texture, with rough or bumpy areas. Including to potential increase in acne breakouts. The loss of moisture and protective lipids can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable.

Your skin is a complex organ and skin barrier distress can come from a variety of factors including excessive cleansing, harsh skincare products, environmental stressors, underlying skin conditions, and genetics.

 

Skin Barrier Repair Products

Now that we have looked as some symptoms caused by a weaker skin barrier... let's go over how to fix skin barrier issues. We'll take you through some of our fantastic skin barrier repair products that will have your defenses back up and ready to stand guard.

 

At Eight Saints we offer two products, each a skin barrier cream, that pack powerful barrier bolstering features in to your everyday skincare routine.

 

Up Your Defense

Our Up The Anti Anti-Aging Night Cream is your first and best stop for overall skin barrier protection. This natural, green tea scented night cream is an InStyle Editor's Pick and features TWO key active ingredients that will bring reinforcements to your skin's natural barrier.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, aids in moisture retention by significantly supporting and strengthening the skin's lipid barrier. It does this in a few ways:

• Niacinamide helps boost the production of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids, which are key components of the lipid barrier. These lipids help lock in moisture and create the protective shield on the skin's surface.
• Niacinamide reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, which can contribute to barrier damage, all while regulating sebum production, so no excessive oiliness that can futz with your skin barrier.
• Niacinamide also promotes collagen production, which can improve your skin's overall structure and resilience, resulting in smoother, more hydrated, and resilient skin.

 

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is a hydrating powerhouse that supports the skin's barrier by attracting and retaining moisture. It has a remarkable ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it a superb natural moisturizer.

 

When applied topically like with our Up The Anti Anti Aging Night Cream, hyaluronic acid helps to replenish and lock in moisture within the skin's outermost layers, fortifying the skin barrier's function. This added hydration not only helps combat dryness and flakiness but also enhances the skin's plumpness and suppleness.

 

By maintaining these optimal moisture levels, hyaluronic acid contributes to your healthier skin barrier, leaving you with a smoother, more resilient complexion that is better equipped to fend off environmental stresses and keep your skin barrier at a full health bar.

 

The Eyes Have It

If you find the skin around your eye area is showing some of the signs of distress above, check out our best-selling All In Eye Cream. This De-puffing under eye cream is a Travel & Leisure Editor's Pick and for good reason. Even if you aren't globetrotting, the skin barrier near your eyes can get a little road weary. Featuring this key active natural ingredient: squalane.

Squalane

Squalane is a natural lipid derived from sources like olives or sugarcane. Historically used in medicine to treat wounds this ingredient acts as a natural emollient and antioxidant and is a fantastic ally for bolstering the skin's barrier.

 

Its molecular structure closely resembles the skin's own lipids, making it easily absorbed and compatible with all skin types, including sensitive or acne-prone skin. Squalane provides essential fatty acids that help fortify the skin's lipid barrier, preventing moisture loss and maintaining hydration. This keeps a close watch on dryness but also supports a healthy barrier function by creating a protective seal on the skin's surface.

 

Squalane also won't clog pores, and its antioxidant abilities help shield the skin from environmental damage, making it a versatile ingredient that will have your skin barrier back in tip top shape.

 

Avoiding Breakdowns

No one wants their skin's natural defenses lowered. With our Up The Anti Anti Aging Night Cream and All In Eye Cream these skin barrier supporting products will get you back to the smooth, secure, shimmering you.