There’s a new movement gaining momentum in the skincare industry these days and we couldn’t be happier to see it. In recent years, cosmetic brands and beauty experts are finally focusing on an essential, yet often overlooked, aspect of caring for your complexion. More and more products and treatments are being created with the goal of supporting the skin’s protective barrier, and the results are game-changing.
If you’re curious about all the buzz around barrier repair, you’re going to want to keep reading. We’ve got the full scoop on how to treat your barrier better and why it actually matters.
What is the skin barrier and why is it important?
The skin’s protective barrier (also sometimes known as the acid mantle) is the thin outermost layer of your epidermis and your skin’s first line of defense against the outside world. It’s what keeps vital hydration within the skin, while also keeping out damaging external elements – including bacteria, pollution, and other environmental stressors.
When healthy and intact, the skin’s natural barrier is able to maintain very precise pH levels, which help protect and nourish your skin. However, when the delicate balance of lipids, aminos, fatty acids, and water is disrupted, your skin health can suffer significantly, leading to a host of unwanted issues and even permanent damage.
Why this matters is because, without a healthy barrier, your skin isn’t able to function properly, rendering any efforts to treat it virtually ineffective. In other words, before you can even begin to address common concerns like wrinkles, dark spots, dullness, dryness, sensitivity, or sun damage, you’re going to need your skin barrier to be in good shape.
Do you need barrier repair? The telltale signs of a damaged barrier
So how can you determine if your barrier is in need of repair? Some common symptoms of a compromised barrier often show up as reactivity in the form of redness, itching, and irritation. You may experience more inflamed breakouts, as a result of oil imbalance, or your skin may feel very dry and tight due to the skin’s inability to hold on to moisture.
Additionally, if you observe that your skin isn’t tolerating products like it used to, reacting negatively to certain formulas and ingredients, or failing to yield positive results, you may indeed be dealing with barrier damage.
The bad news is, it happens to the best of us. Due to a number of factors – from using the wrong products to too many harsh treatments, over exfoliating, extreme weather, or some combination of these things – it’s not uncommon for imbalance to occur. The good news is that barrier damage just requires a bit of proper care to correct. Here is what we recommend:
Juvaly’s top tips for barrier supporting skincare
Tip #1: Take a break from anything aggressive – If you regularly use formulas with active ingredients such as alpha-hydroxy acids, physical exfoliants, or astringent alcohols, your best first step is to cease use of these products. While these types of ingredients can be beneficial in moderation, too much of a good thing can quickly strip the protective barrier. Giving your skin at least a temporary reprieve is critical to allow it to repair, and restore optimal function.
Tip #2: Focus on nourishing, soothing, and calming – To further help with your skin’s healing process, you’ll want to opt for products that reinforce the barrier. This includes lots of hydration and moisture in the form of simple, natural ingredients such as botanical oils and butters, as well as protective agents like humectants, emollients, and occlusives.
Tip #3: Add a boost of antioxidants – One more component that can be especially helpful for promoting renewal, rejuvenation, and repair is antioxidants. At Juvaly, we’ve chosen to focus all of our formulas around our favorite super ingredient fullerene, because it is known to be one of the most effective, and fast-acting, available antioxidants. By incorporating the potent properties of fullerene into your routine, you’ll be giving your skin everything it needs to recover quickly and get back to glowing.