How to Repair Your Skin Moisture Barrier

Between dry climates, sun exposure, pollutants and harsh products, there are a lot of elements that can trigger discomfort and stressed skin. When our barrier is healthy, our skin is soft, supple and well-hydrated. But when we have a compromised skin moisture barrier, our skin can feel dry, rough, and more sensitive than usual.

The skin moisture barrier is the body’s best defence against external stressors, and works hard to protect you against premature aging, bad bacteria and loss of moisture. So, taking time to understand how to strengthen your skin moisture barrier is well worth it.

In this guide, we’ll be sharing our expert advice on how to repair your skin moisture barrier, and which ingredients can help nourish your skin moving forward.

Also known as the epidermis, the skin moisture barrier refers to the outer layer of the skin, which is made up of multiple ‘sheets’ of cells. The epidermis protects the delicate, deeper layers of skin through a makeup of lipids, fats and skin cells. Lipids are especially important because they help preserve hydration in the skin. A healthy, uncompromised skin moisture barrier works in tandem with the microbiome, an ecosystem of both good and bad bacteria that creates a healthy balance in the skin.

The skin moisture barrier has two main functions:

• Keep in the things our body needs – such as water, ceramides, and fatty acids – and maintain a healthy PH balance
• Form a protective barrier against harmful aggressors, like UV rays, pollution and bad bacteria

Lancôme’s National Skincare Expert Brittany Hanchard breaks it down for us:

“Think of the skin moisture barrier as your built-in hydration mask: both locking in moisture and preventing water loss. A broken skin moisture barrier doesn’t give your skin the reinforcement it needs – which can lead to a host of uncomfortable skin concerns.”

Even with a consistent skincare routine, we can all be susceptible to a compromised skin moisture barrier. There are myriad external and internal factors that can cause a broken skin moisture barrier, including:

• excess sun exposure
• air pollution and external allergens
• over-exfoliating or over-cleansing the skin
• extreme climates (very dry or very humid)
• potent skincare ingredients (such as retinol)
• alkaline soaps or detergents
• side effects of prescription medication (such as retinoids)
• aging (moisture loss is common with age) and genetics
• psychological stress²

Each individual is different, so your broken skin barrier might be triggered by a number of these stressors.

When you have a disrupted or broken skin moisture barrier, your skin will struggle to effectively keep out harmful stressors and prevent transepidermal water loss (losing moisture).¹ When the skin is in this vulnerable state, it can lead to a number of uncomfortable symptoms. Signs of a weakened barrier may include:

• redness
• dryness
• rough, scaly patches
• flaking
• dullness
• itching sensations
• blemish-prone skin
• extra sensitivity (even to products you have used before)

If you have noticed any of these changes to your skin, it may be time to reassess your skincare habits to help reinforce your skin moisture barrier.

Focus on ingredients

There are several hero ingredients you can implement into your routine to help infuse the deeper layers of your face with moisture and improve skin elasticity. These include:

• Ceramides: these naturally occurring lipids help bind skin cells in the epidermis. Ceramides and their skincare benefits are well-documented, and they play a significant role in supporting a compromised skin moisture barrier and mitigating the byproducts of sensitised skin.
• Hyaluronic acid: this beloved ingredient is a staple in many skincare routines but is particularly beneficial for weakened skin moisture barriers. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, so it attracts water to the skin, combating transepidermal water loss.
• Niacinamide: there are a number of benefits of niacinamide for your skin, including promoting lipid and protein production that supports healthy skin moisture barrier function.

Since the goal is to strengthen the skin moisture barrier, you’ll want to avoid ingredients that may further disrupt its function and cause added discomfort. These may include:

• retinol
• exfoliants (BHAs and AHAs)

Gently cleanse skin

The skin’s outermost layer can be compromised through friction (like rough rubbing), so a key step in how to repair your skin moisture barrier is to cleanse well with a gentle formula. Rich in emollients and nourishing milk-proteins, the Galatée Confort Rich Creamy Cleanser adeptly removes makeup and impurities while softening and moisturising the skin.

To include this product at the start of both your morning and evening skincare routine, apply a small amount to clean, dry hands and gently rub onto a wet face, rubbing in circular motions. Rinse off with lukewarm or cold water to avoid discomfort.

There are a lot of preconceived notions about toner, and what toner does for sensitised skin. Well, while toner has a historical reputation of drying out the skin with stringent ingredients, many modern formulations are alcohol-free and prioritise hydration and comfort.

To fix a damaged skin moisture barrier, seek out a toner that helps replace lost moisture, such as the Absolue Rose 80 Lotion Face Toner. This toner is rich in perpetual rose extract, essential oils and rose water: ingredients that work together to promote stronger, smoother, firmer skin.

Use a targeted serum

Using a serum that contains hydrating ingredients is your next important step to creating a robust skin moisture barrier. Serums have a lightweight texture and a high concentration of potent ingredients that specifically target dry, flaky, and even blemish-prone skin.

A broken skin moisture barrier behaves in similar ways to very sensitive skin, so you can approach your serum selection the same way you would choose skincare for sensitive skin – by avoiding harsh ingredients.

The Advanced Génifique Sensitive Serum is powered by prebiotic and probiotic fractions to help strengthen the skin moisture barrier and safeguard against daily aggressors. It is also formulated with hyaluronic acid to boost hydration, and its combination of ferulic acid and vitamin E provides further defence for the skin.

To use the Advanced Génifique Sensitive Serum, gently shake the bottle to mix both concentrates. Apply a dropper amount into your hands and press firmly but gently into clean skin. Spread any excess product across your face and neck, working out and upwards from the centre. This serum can be used morning and night before your moisturiser.

Use a nourishing moisturiser

One of the most important skincare steps to reinforce a compromised skin moisture barrier is to lock in hydration with a rich moisturiser. We suggest Hydra Zen Cream, an anti-stress face cream that delivers lasting hydration and comfort, while relieving the skin from external influences (like weather and artificial heating and cooling) that can cause dehydration.

Apply Hydra Zen Cream as part of your morning and evening skincare routine: after cleansing, toning and using a serum. Spread evenly onto your face and neck until the product is fully absorbed.

Tips on maintaining a healthy skin moisture barrier

Restructuring your skincare routine is the primary step in how to repair a skin moisture barrier, but you can take additional precautions to help support healthy barrier function:

• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day to protect from external stressors.
• Stay hydrated by consuming at least two litres of water per day.
• Avoid overly hot showers that rob the skin of moisture
• Make some changes to your diet to include anti-inflammatory foods (think salmon, berries, dark leafy greens, and whole grains).

Once your compromised skin moisture barrier has recovered, you can gradually reintegrate other must-have skincare ingredients for your skin goals.

¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9168018/
²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5910426/