Skin SOS: How to repair your barrier
Finding appropriate products to nourish and repair sensitive skin or an impaired barrier can be difficult. We're here to help you navigate it by providing insights into what contributes to a compromised skin barrier and creating a list of ingredients and product recommendations for restoring your complexion's healthy glow! With our guidance, goodbye to redness, itching, and dryness; hello, beautiful radiance!
Your skin's natural barrier is the key to lasting skin health and vitality—like a shield that blocks foreign substances while locking in essential moisture. Dryness, itchiness, redness, or sensitivity can all be signs of an impaired barrier; if you're exhibiting any such symptoms, immediately reinforce this protection layer with gentle products free from harsh actives.
Causes of an impaired barrier
Having sensitised skin and an impaired barrier differs from having sensitive skin, a very rare skin type, where sensitised skin is a state we can all experience. Over-exfoliating, using too many harsh acids, layering too many products or inappropriate aggressive treatments, and failing to introduce active products, including retinol, gradually are all common culprits for self-induced sensitivity.
Ingredients to look for when choosing a moisturiser
To fortify and care for your barrier and complexion by selecting ingredients that boast anti-inflammatory properties, mimic our natural barrier, and are bio-identical. A lineup of our favourite soothing and treating ingredients to look for in a great moisturiser:
- Ceramides
- Glycerin
- Beta-glucan
- Shea butter
- Aloe-vera
- Oatmeal
- Phospholipids
- Niacinamide
- Cholesterol
- Sodium hyaluronate
- Panthenol B5
- Vitamin K
Our favourite products for sensitive skin
From our extensive experience in helping clients repair their impaired skin barriers over the years, we've curated a list of our favourite tried, tested, and loved treatment products for sensitive skin from some of the best brands in the industry, including iS Clinical, SkinCeuticals, Mesoestetic, Murad, and Société Clinical Skincare.
iS Clinical Sheald Recovery Balm
This product encourages the skin's natural healing process and alleviates irritation. It contains soothing ingredients like oat extracts and restorative ingredients like panthenol and cholesterol.
SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair
This gentle treatment product is formulated specifically to help repair compromised skin by facilitating the rapid restoration of its barrier function. It's very effective in relieving sensitive skin and diminishing redness.
Mesoestetic Melan Recovery
This intensive treatment can combat reactive signs of irritation and redness. It helps to re-balance the skin barrier and provide more comfort, elasticity, and smoothness to the skin.
Murad Intense Recovery Cream
This product is a clinically proven, comforting cream perfect for very stressed-out skin as it reduces the visible signs of stress-induced ageing and redness. It contains ingredients that provide nourishment and strengthens the skin barrier.
Société Clinical Skincare Calming Relief Balm
This treatment balm is excellent for post-procedure or sensitised skin or can be used as a daily moisturiser. It soothes and calms redness and can help to improve itchiness.
How to apply moisturiser
Restoring your barrier is vital to the health of your complexion and should be your focus if you are experiencing any symptoms of sensitive skin. Streamline your routine and keep it simple; use only a cleanser plus moisturiser and SPF (during the day) in your routine - remember to pay special attention to the neck and chest area! When applying the lotion or cream on affected areas, try using gentle pressure with a patting technique for less irritation if needed; pushing it into deeper levels helps absorption even more. Reapply as often as necessary throughout the day.
SPF is your friend!
Sun protection is critical for long-term skin health, especially when your barrier is impaired. Mineral sunscreens are an excellent choice as they form a protective layer without causing any further irritation and reactions. Zinc oxide found in mineral sunscreens is also a skin protectant. As far as our favorite picks go – we recommend these options to shield your sensitivities from harmful UV rays while keeping irritation at bay!
A compromised barrier with symptoms of sensitive skin is uncomfortable but can be restored by following the advice and using the ingredients listed above. Contact us today for more professional advice and treatments to bring your skin to a healthy state with a glowing complexion!
