Protecting Your Skin Barrier

Let's talk about the skin barrier. 

The skin barrier is arguably the most important part of your skin, but discussions about this aren’t always common in the beauty industry. The skin on your body is your largest organ, it protects your other organs from outside factors, and works as a protective barrier between your insides and the outside world. 

The skin on your body comprises proteins, ceramides, lipids, and countless cells. These are the essential building blocks to healthy, hydrated skin. However, when the proteins and lipids start to decrease or you expose your skin to environmental factors, it can lead to a damaged skin barrier. 

We're here to walk you through how to support your skin barrier, the best skin barrier repair products, and what you can do to adjust your routine to maintain the integrity of your largest organ. Let's dive in: 

What Is the Skin Barrier?

There are three main layers of skin: The epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. Each layer has sublayers and a different purpose. The most important layer is the epidermis -- the skin barrier or your skin's natural moisture barrier. 

The epidermis is a protective barrier. It's the outermost layer of your skin, with one of the most important jobs: Protect the body from the outside world. This layer of your skin has other sub-layers filled with nutrients and fatty acids. The skincare products you use in your routine work to keep this layer of your skin hydrated, soft, and supple. 

What are the Functions of the Skin Barrier?

Each layer of your skin has a specialized focus and purpose in your body. The skin barrier's primary role is to protect and hydrate. Here's a breakdown of these functions:

The most apparent function of your skin barrier is to provide protection. Since it's an outer layer of your skin, it protects your organs and tissues from outside risks and damage. Without this physical barrier over your body, you'd be more susceptible to environmental stressors and pollutants throughout the day. 

The skin barrier helps with moisture regulation. The lipids, ceramides, and other components work together to prevent dehydration and help you retain moisture. With the help of a daily moisturizer and a cleanser, you can help reduce your risk of transdermal water loss and keep your skin barrier hydrated and nourished. 

Your skin barrier protects your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Whether you're spending a full day in the sun or just a few hours - these harmful UVB rays can wreak havoc on your skin, leading to dark spots, discoloration, and premature signs of aging. If you didn't have your skin barrier, the dermis and hypodermis would be more susceptible to UV radiation.

Your skin barrier helps to regulate sebum production. Sebum is an oily substance your skin naturally produces to moisturize and protect the skin. While some sebum is expected, an excessive amount can lead to an imbalance on the skin’s surface. A balanced and healthy skin barrier makes you less likely to have oily skin, acne breakouts, or oily T-zone. 

Why Is the Skin Barrier so Important?

Without the skin barrier, there would be no way to protect the organs in your body. You'd struggle to regulate your body temperature and wouldn't have the same sensations to touch, pain, or temperature changes.

The health of your skin barrier is vital to your overall health and maintaining your youthful complexion. The most noticeable signs of a damaged skin barrier are skin tone, texture, and appearance changes. If you start to notice wrinkles forming quicker or your skin looks older than you are, it may be a sign of a bigger problem. Thankfully, there are ways to reverse the damage done and strengthen your skin barrier. You just first need to understand what is causing the changes. 

What Can Weaken the Skin Barrier?

Many factors can contribute to weakening the skin barrier. Some are out of your control, while you can prevent others with a few changes to your lifestyle. 

We get it, there's nothing better than spending the day laying out at the beach or sitting poolside. However, you're slowly weakening your skin barrier if you aren't wearing your daily SPF30+. 

If you're not hydrating your skin regularly or prioritizing a skincare routine, your skin barrier will slowly age, and signs of aging will become more prevalent. 

Your skin barrier is at risk if you aren't using a cleanser at least once a day before bed. The build-up of dirt  and bacteria can lead to irritation and redness, and if you aren't consistent with cleansing your skin, this can cause pimples and other skin imperfections.

Exfoliants are great for radiance and smoothing as they buff away dead skin cells and make room for new growth. However, if you're using exfoliants too often, or with strong ingredients, you may disrupt your skin barrier and cause inflammation. 

The older you get, the less ceramides that your skin barrier produces. This can cause a natural decline in skin barrier strength, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and changes in skin texture. 

What Are the Signs of a Damaged Skin Barrier?

The integrity of your skin barrier is vital to your youthful appearance. A compromised skin barrier can cause changes in texture and appearance, leading to premature signs of aging. 

Here are some common signs and symptoms to look out for:

The older you get, the less water and nutrients in your skin. Over time, this can lead to visual signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. While aging is a normal process, a damaged skin barrier can speed up this process, leading to dramatic changes in skin texture.

A damaged skin barrier can leave your skin rough, tight, and dull. As mentioned above, the skin barrier primarily consists of ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol. If these nutrients aren't present on the skin's surface, it can impact your skin's natural elasticity - leaving you with a dull, dry appearance. 

Struggling with allergy season? Is your skin super sensitive to certain skincare products or ingredients? While skin sensitivities can happen for various reasons, one of the most common reasons is problems with your skin barrier. Common symptoms include a stinging sensation when applying skincare products, tenderness, sensitivities, and redness.  

A common skin condition connected to a damaged skin barrier is eczema. If you're starting to suddenly notice dry, red, flaky patches of skin on your body - it could be a sign of an issue with your skin barrier. Other common symptoms include acne breakouts, rough patches of dry skin, redness, and even infections. 

How to Protect the Skin Barrier

The best way to protect your skin is by prioritizing a skincare routine. If you aren't at least using the right skincare products, you're exposing your skin barrier to harmful environmental stressors and pollutants. However, many of these environmental factors aren't avoidable daily. The key to protecting the skin barrier is prevention and consistency. To maintain the integrity of your skin barrier and ensure it's not compromised - here are the three must-haves you'll want to include in your routine:

A gentle cleanser can eliminate dirt and bacteria in your pores and will also remove leftover makeup, sunscreen from your face. If you aren't using a gentle cleanser at least once a day before bed, you may experience ongoing irritation, breakouts, and redness.  

You'll need a gentle cleanser like The Cream Cleansing Gel to ensure a fresh, cleansed complexion. Our revitalizing daily cleanser will eliminate impurities without stripping or drying your skin. Our formula is packed with essential fatty acids, minerals, and antioxidants - all nutrients your skin needs to lock in moisture and preserve the skin barrier. During our 12-week user trials, 100% of participants agreed skin feels deeply nourished and conditioned after use. We recommend using it once a day during your nighttime routine for the best results. 

To maintain the integrity of your skin barrier, you'll want to moisturize daily and prioritize nutrient-rich formulas. Applying a daily moisturizer twice a day helps to lock in hydration, improving your skin's natural elasticity and helping you achieve a soft, supple complexion.

A powerful, hydrating formula like The Rich Cream will help prevent transepidermal water loss and support the daily functions of the skin barrier. Our formula contains high-potency botanicals rich in omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants powered by TFC8® technology.

Whether you're spending a full day in the sun or running errands - sunscreen is a daily must-have. Without protection, you're exposing your skin to harmful UVB rays. If you never wear an SPF or forget to apply it before starting your day, it can lead to premature signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. 

We recommend including an SPF of 30 or higher in your routine. Depending on how much time you spend in the sun, you may need to reapply sunscreen to your face every two hours. 

How to Repair the Skin Barrier

If your skin is exhibiting signs of damage - don't panic. The proper skin barrier repair techniques and skin barrier repair products can enhance your approach to skincare and keep your skin protected. Here's what you need to know:

There are many reasons why you may have a damaged skin barrier. Whether it's prolonged sun exposure or forgetting to wear a daily moisturizer, these minor problems can lead to more significant issues. Once you find the root cause, you can easily adjust your routine to meet your skin's needs.

If you're dealing with skin sensitivities and irritation - the last thing you want to do is invite new ingredients and formulas into your routine. By simplifying your approach to skincare, you can maintain the integrity of your skin barrier and slowly help repair any damage. 

If you have dry or sensitive skin - you'll want to be careful not to overwash your face. Overwashing can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to more irritation and dryness in the long run. Consider washing your face once a day during your nighttime routine. 

While an exfoliant is essential for promoting cellular turnover, it's not always the best product to include when repairing the skin barrier. Consider finding a gentle exfoliant and using it one or two times a week. Products like The Essence are a three-in-one gentle exfoliant, toner, and hydrating essence formulated with mild natural actives to nourish, hydrate, and protect the skin against environmental aggressors.

Protect Your Skin With Augustinus Bader 

It's time to start making your skin barrier health a priority. A broken skin barrier can impact your confidence and increase your risk of premature aging. If you want to learn how to heal your skin barrier, the first step you need to take is to improve your approach to skincare. 

At Augustinus Bader, we're the experts in innovative skincare. Our formulas are backed by over 30 years of clinical trials and research - so you can feel confident that our products will help you repair, maintain, and strengthen your skin barrier. Explore our selection of skincare today.