It’s a familiar tale in the beauty world - over-enthusiasm with skincare actives and exfoliants leads to a compromised skin barrier, leaving you with dry, flaky, and unhappy skin. If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry; many have been in your shoes, including myself. Now, it's time to make amends with your skin.

Understanding the Skin Barrier
The skin barrier, specifically the top layer known as the stratum corneum, is crucial for keeping beneficial elements in and harmful ones out. It protects against toxins, pollution, UV damage, and helps prevent water loss from the body. A healthy barrier means your skin is better protected and more capable of retaining moisture.

Common Culprits of Barrier Damage
The journey to a damaged barrier often begins with excessive use of chemical exfoliants or retinoids. However, other factors such as harsh cleansers, scrubbing too hard, social media fads (we’re looking at you, TikTok), and even internal stressors like hormonal changes can strip your skin of its natural oils, weakening your barrier.

Steps to Repair Your Skin Barrier
Repairing your skin barrier doesn't mean putting a halt to all skincare but instead, giving it a chance to catch its breath. This is where a routine focused on simplicity and healing comes in.

First, take a break from all harsh skincare actives like retinoids, strong acids, and even vitamin C. Give your skin a breather, up to a month, depending on the damage present, to start the healing process.

 Use a nourishing oil cleanser like our Orange Crush Cleansing Oil to remove impurities without further stripping your skin. Massage one to two pumps into your dry face, neck, and décolleté, then remove with a warm flannel.

Follow up with a hydrating serum like our Pure Hyaluronic Serum, which provides essential moisture without overwhelming your skin. Then, nourish and soothe the skin by applying a small amount of Golden Hour Glow Oil Serum, packed with nutrients and antioxidants that help relieve inflammation and feed your skin with the care it needs.

Knowing the frustration and discomfort around angry skin first-hand, we developed our Calm and Balance Essentials bundle specifically for skin that’s feeling irritated or out of sorts, particularly catering to those experiencing barrier damage. This bundle features these three healing heroes to make bringing things back to basics easy and effective, ensuring your skin feels nurtured, hydrated and protected during periods of discomfort, like barrier damage.

Healing times vary depending on the extent of the damage and your skin type, ranging from a couple of weeks to over a month. You'll know your skin barrier is on the mend when your skin feels less spicy, is not as dry or irritated, and the overall redness and dehydration have subsided. There isn’t a hard and fast rule around recovery – it’s entirely dependent on your skin, the damage caused and how diligent you are with your repair action plan.

Preventing Future Damage
Once your skin has recovered, it’s crucial to strengthen your barrier to prevent future issues. Firstly, you’ve learnt your lesson, right? Skincare is all fun and games until your barrier leaves the chat, so have fun with your products, but don’t overdo it and leave your skin with regrets.

Instead, make ingredients like ceramides, antioxidants, and humectants such as hyaluronic acid a staple in your skincare routine. You’ll also want to ensure SPF is a non-negotiable during the day. These are all responsible for protecting and deeply hydrating the skin ongoing, meaning that your line of defence against aggressors (both internal and external) only gets stronger and stronger.

When it comes to adding the heavy hitters back into your life, gradually reintroduce them. Reintroducing actives slowly and monitoring your skin’s response is the key to avoid overloading it once again.

If uncertainty persists or your skin's condition doesn't improve, consulting a skin specialist for personalised advice is a smart move.

Shop our Calm and Balance Essentials via our website, and together, let’s keep your skin barrier strong and slaying!