The skin barrier is a critical component of your skin's health, acting as a protective shield that maintains hydration and defends against environmental stressors. When this barrier is damaged, it can lead to a host of skin issues, including dryness, irritation, sensitivity, breakouts, and accelerated aging. Taking steps to protect and repair the skin barrier is essential for maintaining healthy, resilient skin.

What is the Skin Barrier?

The skin barrier, also known as the stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of the skin. It serves as a crucial protective shield, composed of tightly packed dead skin cells (corneocytes) held together by lipids (fats) such as ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. This barrier has several key functions:

1. Protection: It acts as the first line of defense against environmental aggressors such as bacteria, viruses, pollutants, and UV radiation.
2. Hydration: It prevents excessive water loss from the body, maintaining the skin's hydration levels.
3. Regulation: It helps regulate the exchange of substances between the body and the environment, ensuring that essential nutrients are retained and harmful substances are kept out.

What Does it Mean When the Skin Barrier is Damaged?

When the skin barrier is damaged, its protective functions are compromised. This means that the barrier is no longer effectively keeping moisture in or keeping irritants and pathogens out. Damage to the skin barrier can manifest in several ways:

1. Increased Permeability: A compromised barrier allows more water to escape from the skin (transepidermal water loss or TEWL), leading to dryness and dehydration.
2. Irritation and Sensitivity: Without its protective shield, the skin is more susceptible to irritants, allergens, and pollutants, leading to increased sensitivity, redness, and inflammation.
3. Breakouts and Infections: Harmful bacteria and pathogens can more easily penetrate the skin, leading to breakouts, acne, and even infections.
4. Inflammation: The skin may become inflamed and show signs of chronic conditions like eczema or dermatitis as a result of an impaired barrier.
5. Accelerated Aging: Long-term damage to the barrier can accelerate the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging due to chronic inflammation and dehydration.

Signs of a Damaged Skin Barrier

A damaged skin barrier can manifest through various symptoms that signal your skin's protective layer is compromised. Here are some common signs to look out for:

1. Dryness and Flakiness: When the skin barrier is impaired, it loses moisture more easily, leading to dry, flaky patches.
2. Redness and Irritation: Your skin may appear red, inflamed, or irritated due to its reduced ability to defend against environmental stressors and irritants.
3. Sensitivity: An increased sensitivity to skincare products and environmental factors, like weather changes, is often a sign of a compromised barrier.
4. Breakouts and Acne: Disruption in the barrier can lead to an imbalance in skin's natural oils, often causing breakouts and acne.
5. Itching and Discomfort: Persistent itching and a general feeling of discomfort on the skin surface can indicate a weakened barrier.
6. Dehydration: Despite using moisturizers, your skin might still feel tight and dehydrated because it cannot retain moisture effectively.
7. Increased Oiliness: Paradoxically, some people may experience an overproduction of oil as the skin tries to compensate for the lack of moisture.

Why People’s Skin Barriers Get Damaged

1. Over-exfoliation: Using exfoliating products too frequently or using harsh physical exfoliants can strip away the protective outer layer of the skin, leading to a weakened barrier.

2. Harsh Cleansers: Cleansers with high pH levels or containing sulfates can remove the natural oils from the skin, disrupting its natural balance and leading to a compromised barrier. (Note: Our Halcyon Cleanser is sulfate-free, and pH-optimizing.)

3. Environmental Stressors: Pollution, UV radiation, and extreme weather conditions (like cold winds and dry heat) can damage the skin’s protective layer over time.

4. Aggressive Skincare Routine: Using too many active ingredients (like retinoids, AHAs, and BHAs) at once, or layering products incorrectly, can overwhelm and irritate the skin, weakening its barrier.

5. Stress and Lack of Sleep: Chronic stress and inadequate sleep can lead to increased production of cortisol, which can break down skin’s collagen and interfere with its repair mechanisms, compromising the barrier.

6. Poor Diet: A diet low in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins can negatively affect the skin’s health and its ability to maintain a strong barrier.

7. Dehydration: Not drinking enough water or using products that strip moisture from the skin can lead to dehydration, making it difficult for the skin to maintain its protective barrier.

8. Allergies and Irritants: Exposure to allergens or irritants (such as certain fabrics, fragrances, and chemicals) can cause inflammation and damage to the skin barrier.

9. Aging: As we age, the skin naturally becomes thinner and less able to retain moisture, making it more susceptible to barrier damage.

10. Medical Conditions: Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis can inherently weaken the skin barrier, making it more prone to damage.

General Skincare Guidelines for a Healthy Skin Barrier

1. Use Gentle Cleansers, (like our Halcyon Cleanser that fulfills these guidelines)

   • Choose sulfate-free and fragrance-free cleansers that do not strip the skin of its natural oils.
   • Opt for pH-balanced cleansers to avoid disrupting the skin’s natural acid mantle.

2. Incorporate Moisturizing Ingredients (most of these ingredients can be found throughout our entire line)

   • Look for products with humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera, which help attract and retain moisture. A good place to start is our Cocoon Dew, which contains all of these ingredients.
   • Include products with emollients like squalene, shea butter, and ceramides to smooth and soften the skin.

3. Avoid Over-exfoliation

   • Limit exfoliation to 1-2 times per week, using gentle exfoliants like lactic acid or enzyme-based exfoliators.
   • Avoid physical exfoliants with rough particles that can cause micro-tears in the skin.

4. Moisturize Regularly

   • Use a moisturizer that suits your skin type and is rich in barrier-repairing ingredients such as ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol, found in our Gold Drops face oil.
   • Apply moisturizer immediately after cleansing to lock in moisture.

5. Protect from Environmental Stressors

   • Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen daily with at least SPF 30 to protect against UV damage.
   • Use antioxidants like green tea extract, astaxanthin, vitamin C, and vitamin E to neutralize free radicals caused by pollution and UV exposure. These antioxidants can be found throughout our collection.

6. Maintain a Balanced Skincare Routine

   • Avoid using too many active ingredients at once, which can overwhelm and irritate the skin. Our collection is engineered to provide an effective, yet well tolerated dose of actives for maximum performance without disrupting the skin.
   • Gradually introduce new products to your routine to allow your skin to adjust.

7. Support Skin’s Natural Barrier with Probiotics

   • Use products containing probiotics or fermented ingredients to support a healthy skin microbiome, which can strengthen the barrier function. This can be found in our cleanser, and our face mist.

8. Stay Hydrated and Eat a Balanced Diet

   • Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from within.
   • Eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins to support overall skin health.

9. Manage Stress and Get Adequate Sleep

   • Practice stress-reducing activities like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.
   • Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to allow your skin to repair and regenerate.

10. Be Gentle with Your Skin

    • Avoid harsh rubbing or tugging at the skin when cleansing or applying products.
    • Use lukewarm water instead of hot water, which can strip the skin of its natural oils.

How our Products Can Help

To repair a damaged skin barrier, it's essential to focus on products that hydrate, nourish, and protect the skin. The Ambrosia Beauty Nectar, Cocoon Dew, Gold Drops, and Halcyon Cleanser each offer specific benefits that support the skin’s natural healing processes, helping to restore a healthy, resilient barrier.

Ambrosia Beauty Nectar

This super-serum is designed to deeply hydrate and strengthen the skin, promoting repair and resilience. Key benefits include:

• Intense Hydration: Contains humectants like hyaluronic acid that draw moisture into the skin, helping to restore the hydration balance.
• Skin Strengthening: Features a blend of pharmaceutical-grade antioxidants and botanical extracts, which can help support the skin's natural repair processes.
• Anti-inflammatory Properties: Includes a soothing and barrier-fortifying blend of ingredients such as vegetal placenta extract and probiotics, reducing redness and irritation while helping to fortify the barrier.

Shop Ambrosia Beauty Nectar - $192

Cocoon Dew

Cocoon Dew is a hydrating and soothing face mist that refreshes, preps, and conditions the skin. Its benefits include:

• Probiotics and Fermented Ingredients: These help balance the skin's microbiome, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy barrier. They also strengthen the barrier, enhance hydration, and promote a smoother skin texture. Fermented ingredients, in particular, break down into smaller molecules, making them easier for the skin to absorb and providing maximum nutrient benefits. They also have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce irritation.
• Bioidentical Actives: These are naturally occurring compounds that the skin needs for optimal function. They includes panthenol (provitamin B5) and allantoin, which are known for their barrier-repairing properties. Panthenol is a powerful humectant that attracts and retains moisture, soothes irritated skin, and improves elasticity. Allantoin helps to calm and soothe the skin, promotes cell regeneration, and locks in moisture to ensure the skin remains hydrated and supple.

Shop Cocoon Dew - $85

Gold Drops

This luxurious oil blend offers intensive nourishment and repair. Here's how it helps:

• Deep Nourishment: Rich in nutritive, anti-inflammatory oils such as marula and rosehip, which provide essential fatty acids for barrier repair, and lubricate the skin matrix.
• Squalane: A powerful moisturizing ingredient that mimics the skin's natural oils, helping to prevent moisture loss and restore suppleness.
• Antioxidant Protection: Infused with antioxidants like vitamin E, and astaxanthin to protect the skin from environmental stressors that can damage the barrier.
• Moisture Retention: Helps lock in moisture, ensuring long-lasting hydration and a smoother skin surface.

Shop Gold Drops - $120

Halcyon Cleanser

A gentle cleanser designed to cleanse without stripping the skin. Benefits include:

• Non-stripping Formula: Formulated with biosurfactants instead of sulfates (and sulfate-derivatives) to gently cleanse the skin while maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier.
• Soothing Ingredients: Contains calming ingredients like green tea and reishi, which help reduce irritation and inflammation.
• Balanced pH: Formulated to maintain and optimize the skin's natural beneficial pH, restoring the acid mantle and preventing further disruption of the barrier.

Shop Halcyon - $68