Hi Grabbers, we’re so proud of you for coming to another good read so we can take better care of our skin!
Today, we’re going to understand what our skin barrier (or skin’s natural moisture barrier) is. Why is this topic so popular right now? And, does our skin barrier need our immediate attention?
What is our skin’s natural moisture barrier?
Our skin’s natural moisture barrier retains moisture and nutrients inside our skin and protects our skin from external harmful components such as pathogens (bacteria) and pollutants.
In short, our skin’s natural moisture barrier keeps the good stuff in and the bad stuff out.
Why do we want a healthy skin’s natural moisture barrier?
When we have a healthy skin’s natural moisture barrier, our skin is supple, hydrated, glowing, and dewy. We are less prone to acne breakouts because it is harder for acne-causing bacteria to enter our skin. Our skin is not dry or flaky, making sunscreen and other topical applications such as makeup go smoothly on our skin.
What damages our skin’s natural moisture barrier?
- Exposure to harsh chemicals or stripping face cleanser
- Over exfoliating
- Stress
- Too much sun exposure
- Too cold or too hot temperature
How do you know if your skin’s natural moisture barrier is damaged?
Here are the 7 signs your skin’s natural moisture barrier is damaged:
- Acne, infection
- Persistent dry skin, rough, bumpy, and flaky skin or skin patches (texture change)
- Inflammation, redness, irritation (color/tone change)
- Sensitivity, burning
- Itchy skin
- Allergic reactions
- Medical conditions: eczema, psoriasis, rosacea
How to repair your skin’s natural moisture barrier?
1. Don’t over cleanse your face and don’t cleanse your face with hot water
According to Cleveland Clinic, we should not massage our face cleanser on our face for too long (over 1 minute) because the fatty layer of our skin’s natural moisture layer will start to break down. This also happens if we wash our face with scalding hot water. The right way to cleanse our face is to use warm water and massage our face with our cleanser then rinse it off.
2. Use products that take pH into considerations
Contrary to popular belief, our face does not have a neutral pH of 7. Our facial skin has a natural pH of 5.5 (acidic) on average. Our facial natural pH keeps our facial skin healthy. Think of pH as a temperature that we are comfortable with. If it is too hot or too cold, we will not feel our best. Therefore, to avoid famaging our skin’s natural moisture barrier, we have to use products that do not throw off our skin’s natural pH level.
3. Simplify your skincare routine
A simple yet consistent skincare routine is the key to your success in skincare. A simple skincare routine includes a face cleanser, a face moisturizer, and a face sunscreen. Choose products with simple and skin-loving ingredients, pH balanced, and most importantly do not irritate your skin.
4. Choose a leave-in product with ceramides (moisturizer with ceramides)
Ceramides strengthen our skin’s natural moisture barrier and are crucial to make sure your skin’s natural moisture barrier functions properly, especially if you are prone to acne breakouts. Ceramides are known to be essential for darker skin tone because those of us with darker skin naturally have a low ceramide level.
5. Incorporate a moisturizer into your skincare routine
A Moisturizer with humectants (such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid) which draw moisture from the environment and from our body to our skin’s natural moisture barrier replenishes water loss and keeps our skin hydrated. One important note to remember, we have to apply humectant based moisturizers on damp skin.
How long does it take to repair our skin’s natural moisture barrier?
With consistent care, it takes 3-4 months on average to repair our skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Our skin’s natural moisture barrier plays an important role in our skin health and appearance. To make sure our skin is in good shape, we have to proactively strengthen our skin’s natural moisture barrier.