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 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.
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:
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.
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.
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, 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:
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.
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 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.
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.