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Skin Barrier Repair Products
A quick look at the best skin barrier repair products
- Best pH balancing skin barrier repair product: Xuyoni Synergy Booster
- Best budget skin barrier repair product for breakouts: Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief
- Best skin barrier repair product for mature skin: Paula’s Choice Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol
- Best budget skin barrier repair product with ceramides: Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum
- Best splurge skin barrier repair product for acne-prone skin: EltaMD Skincare Skin Recovery Serum
- Best skin barrier repair serum with hyaluronic acid: Glossier Super Bounce
- Best skin barrier repair cleanser: SkinFix Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser
- Best naturally-derived skin barrier repair product: Typology Lipid Replenishing Serum
- Best skin barrier repair product for overexfoliated skin: Stratia Liquid Gold
- Best skin barrier repair gel with hyaluronic acid: Maelove Hydrator B5 Gel
Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it has its work cut out for it. Each of its many layers has its own role in helping to protect your body.
Your skin barrier, or stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of skin. Although it’s thin, you can think of it like a brick wall. It’s made of strong skin cells known as corneocytes, which are held together by mortar-like lipids.
This layer of skin also contains keratin and natural moisturizers. Plus, the lipid layer also has cholesterol, fatty acids, and ceramides.
Why is the skin barrier important?
Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Solana Beach, California explains that the skin barrier is important to our ability to retain water, protect us from unwanted chemicals or exposures, and help us resist infections.
“It protects our internal organs and systems from the outside and acts as a barrier to toxins, environmental exposures, and light, and helps regulate temperature and comfort,†she says.
It’s possible for the skin barrier to become damaged, meaning it won’t work as efficiently. However, there are tons of products out there that are made to help protect and repair the skin barrier — which is different than simply offering hydration like normal moisturizers do.
How we chose the best skin barrier repair products
To create this list, we looked for products with ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. We also included pH balancing products.
Each of the products on our list has been carefully vetted by our content integrity team to make sure it adheres to our medical and business standards. Learn more here.
ishonest’s picks of the best skin barrier repair products
Xuyoni Synergy Booster
- Price: $$
- Skin type: all, including sensitive and damaged skin
- Size: 50-milliliter (mL) container
Maintaining your skin’s natural pH level is an important part of keeping your skin barrier healthy.
This multitasking toner and serum does just that, working to balance pH and moisturize your skin. It should be applied directly after cleansing.
The product contains organic moringa oleifera leaf extract — which the brand says can help to detox skin that’s been exposed to pollutants and environmental stressors.
Moringa leaves are also rich in sulfur, iodine, and amino acids, which Xuyoni says helps with firming and repairing. They also explain that the formula uses antioxidants from vitamins and polyphenols for an added youthful glow.
With 96 percent organic ingredients, this product is vegan and cruelty-free.
Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief
This vegan barrier serum contains 10 percent oil made from tamanu nuts, which means there’s a possibility that those with nut allergies may have an allergic reaction.
However, if you don’t have nut allergies, this ingredient could be beneficial for your skin. The company says tamanu oil helps with improving texture and breakouts, while also reviving skin. The oil also helps to lock in moisture, keeping your skin barrier healthy.
It also contains niacinamide, another skin care ingredient thought to help with acne, dark spots, and eczema. The formula also includes rose hips and safflower for soothing the skin.
This pick is cruelty-free and free of fragrances, essential oils, and colorants.
Paula’s Choice Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol
This creamy formula works on nourishing dry skin and also addresses aging skin concerns like wrinkles. This is thanks to its use of retinol — the popular vitamin A derivative known for its wrinkle-diminishing and acne-managing effects.
If you’re new to retinol, this product may be a good one to start with, since it only contains 0.01 percent retinol. This may help lessen the possibility of irritation.
Many Google reviewers praise this pick for its firming and hydrating abilities, while others note the price tag is a bit bigger than the bottle. A couple of other comments point out that the packaging is a downside, saying some product seems to get stuck in the pump.
Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum
This pick contains five types of ceramides — an ingredient that can help reinforce the skin barrier and lock in moisture. That makes it a good pick for fine lines and wrinkles, since they tend to be more visible on dry skin.
The formula also contains lipids, including fatty acids, cholesterol, and squalane, which the brand says is to help maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier and lock in moisture. It also contains ceramide precursors, which have been shown to be effective in improving skin barrier function.
As an added bonus, Cocokind is a brand that’s focused on sustainability, with most of the packaging plastic-free and easily recyclable. They also provide stats on the amount of carbon emissions each of their products creates.
EltaMD Skin Recovery Serum
This serum promises to noticeably reduce redness in 24 hours.
It contains vitamin B5 and cica (tigergrass extract) which the brand says soothes inflammation and helps skin barrier function. The formula also has antioxidants to help protect against free radicals that lead to signs of aging.
This pick is said to not clog pores, making it a good choice for those with acne. Plus, it’s also free from dye, fragrance, and parabens.
Glossier Super Bounce
Some Google reviewers call this pick “life-changing,†while a few say it’s uncomfortably sticky.
The brand describes it as soft and smooth, saying it offers a combination of 2 percent hyaluronic acid (HA) complex and pro-vitamin B5, to hydrate in more ways than one.
HA is a superstar skin care ingredient, with a reputation for:
- moisturizing
- wound healing
- tackling wrinkles
- boosting skin elasticity
- treating eczema
- helping facial redness
Glossier explains that HA works in this serum by pulling and locking moisture into the skin, while vitamin B5 encourages long-term hydration.
SkinFix Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser
This pick is different than the others on our list — it’s a foaming cleanser aimed at getting rid of dirt and makeup without stripping lipids, thanks to sulfate-free coconut-based cleansers and lightweight oils.
Google reviewers are overall happy campers, pointing out that this cleanser supports their skin barrier, especially for reviewers with very dry skin.
The company says this pick smooths the appearance of uneven texture and lowers the look of redness and blotchiness. It’s also cruelty-free and vegan.
Typology Lipid Replenishing Serum
This vegan serum is made in France. The 99 percent naturally-derived formula includes ceramides to help repair the skin barrier, boost skin protection, and offer long-lasting hydration.
Reviews for the product on Typology’s site are overwhelmingly positive, with comments saying it works well, calling the serum luxurious and nourishing. However, reviews on third-party sites are lacking.
Stratia Liquid Gold
This moisturizer has over 2,000 Google reviews and the majority of them are glowing. Some say that the product’s name (Liquid Gold) fits its performance well, pointing out how effective it is for healing very tight, itchy, dry skin (which may be a sign of a damaged skin barrier).
The product is made with cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids. It also has niacinamide to help reduce redness, retain moisture, and protect against damage produced by ultraviolet rays.
The brand points out that the product is yellow in color, which can make those with very pale skin see a yellow look on their skin, but they say it’s not staining. They suggest using this product before bed.
This pick is free from fragrance, alcohol, and essential oils.
Maelove Hydrator B5 Gel
This lightweight gel product works as a moisture booster and contains skin- celebrated HA.
It also includes vitamin B5 and an antioxidant called resveratrol — which helps neutralize free radicals that can damage the skin.
The brand says this gel serum spreads well and layers without difficulty, promising you won’t feel a greasy or heavy residue.
It’s worth pointing out that this product comes with free shipping, free returns, and a 100-day guarantee.
How to tell if your skin barrier is damaged
Palm says microfractures and loss of integrity to the skin barrier appear as skin irritation. This irritation, Palm says, can include:
- itching
- burning
- redness
- skin rashes
Finding the right skin barrier repair product for you may be able to help you with these types of skin irritation.
How to choose a skin barrier repair product
It’s a good idea to choose your product based on your skin type (such as oily, dry, combination, or sensitive).
Palm also suggests looking for ingredients such as:
- ceramides
- squalane
- free fatty acids
- glycerin
- natural moisturizing factor
- prebiotics
How to use skin barrier repair products
Performing a patch test on your inner wrist before applying the new-to-you product to a larger area of your skin is also a good idea. Wait at least 24 hours to check for signs of irritation.
Palm recommends applying your product to your skin directly after a shower or bath.
It’s worth noting, however, that since these products are created to lock in moisture, any products you apply after them are less likely to penetrate your skin like they normally would. Instead, it’s a good idea to apply those products first if you have them.
Palm adds that you can consider applying your product more frequently to your hands if you wash your hands often. This can help you avoid losing skin barrier function. This is especially important during the winter months when skin tends to get drier.
Other ways to help protect skin barrier
Along with the right product, Palm says there are some other key things you can do to help you keep a healthy skin barrier.
- Avoid extreme temperatures, including bath or shower water.
- Avoid harsh soaps.
- Select soaps those that specifically repair the skin barrier and support a healthy skin microbiome (the good bacteria native to the skin).
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