You will often find that skin care blogs and articles mention the importance of the skin’s natural barrier. For example, cleansers will be recommended for the fact that they can effectively remove impurities and debris without stripping this ‘barrier’. You may be wondering what this barrier is and why it is so important to keep it intact… Here’s a brief explanation:
- Your skin’s epidermis essentially fulfils the role of barrier; it is made up of layers of skin cells which keep moisture and nutrients in the deeper layers of skin while keeping out any substances that could cause damage. When this barrier is compromised, it can result in dry patches and spots and can leave the skin irritated and prone to hyper pigmentation.
In order to maintain a healthy skin barrier function, it is of course important to protect it from the factors that can cause damage: soaps or harsh cleansers, stress, exposure to the sun etc.
If, however, the barrier function of your skin has already been compromised, then you will need to choose your products carefully in order to repair and strengthen it. Dermalogica’s UltraCalming System is ideal for use on skin that needs some extra help with restoring barrier function while allowing the skin to heal.