We've seen nearly every skincare brand, from high-end to drugstore, market claims related to the skin barrier. But, most of us still can't explain what it is—(guilty!) Today, let's decipher this topic together: from what it is, to why it's important, to how we can restore and protect it.
The skin moisture barrier, or acid mantle, is a layer of cells on the surface of the epidermis—our body's fortress against external irritants and moisture loss. This barrier is comprised of 2 layers of skin cells: the more loose upper layer, which we can observe when we look in the mirror, and the more rigid lower layer. These cellular layers are held together by a series of lipids that acts like glue, maintaining the moisture barrier's integrity.
Functioning optimally, the skin barrier is highly resilient and helps us maintain a plump, supple, glowing complexion. When there are healthy levels of lipids on and within these cells, our skin is able to draw moisture from the environment to rehydrate itself and prevent transepidermal water loss. That's a mouthful—let's break it down together.
Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is the phenomenon of water evaporating through our skin barrier (separate from sweating). High levels of TEWL are an indicator of a damaged skin moisture barrier.
When TEWL occurs, the skin becomes dehydrated, irritated, and more prone to health issues such as eczema, sensitivity, and acne. Factors that contribute to a compromised skin barrier and increased TEWL are harsh cleansers such as detergents and sulfates, low humidity, and air pollution. We can recognize signs of a damaged skin barrier such as an irritated, red complexion, flaky, sensitive skin, persistent breakouts, and inconsistent skin texture.
If any of these sound like you, don't worry! There are plenty of ways to repair and nurture your skin barrier's health, starting today:
- Hydrate: Make sure your skincare and makeup routines include moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, Squalane, and glycerin to lock in and strengthen the moisture barrier.
- Feed your microbiome: As we discussed in Microbiome 101, the skin microbiome produces essential lipids that strengthen our moisture barrier. So, it's important that we nurture a diverse community on our skin! Try formulas that include Prebiotics and Postbiotics to feed and nourish a symbiotic ecosystem that helps your moisture barrier thrive.
- Incorporate Ceramides: Ceramides are fats or lipids that make up 30-40% of the skin's epidermis. They act like glue, holding our skin barrier together to retain moisture. Try incorporating skincare and makeup that includes Ceramides; (we love the Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser). All of BiotechBeauty's products contain Ceramides—even our makeup! Sign up on our waitlist to be notified when our skincare-infused makeup products are available.
- Use SPF: UV damage compromises the skin barrier, so shield your skin from harmful UV rays with sunscreen every day. (Preferably mineral SPF because it's less damaging to the environment than chemical sunscreens! More on this in our Formulated Without blog.)
- Be gentle: Avoid harsh cleansers and opt for sulfate-free formulas that don’t strip away your skin's natural oils. Try to steer clear of fragrances, as these typically are carried by alcohols, which disrupt the skin barrier. Finally, limit physical and chemical exfoliation. We all love a post-peel glow, but overdoing it can weaken the skin barrier.
Your skin barrier takes care of you, so let's do our best to take care of it in return.
XO,
BiotechBeauty
