Have you been experiencing red, uncomfortable, or sensitized skin and are not sure why? You’re not alone. Skin irritation is common and with the rise of clinical ingredients in common skin care products, it’s easy to use actives and acids in our everyday skincare routines.

Your skin barrier is the key to having an even complexion that feels comfortable and hydrated. Let’s look into all things barrier and find out how to keep it healthy.

What is your skin barrier?

Your skin barrier, or stratum corneum, is the outer layer of your skin. Its primary function is to protect your skin against environmental damage from oxidation, UV rays, and pollution while keeping hydration in. When in good condition, it keeps your skin feeling moisturized and bouncy. However, it can be easy to damage the barrier and deal with a myriad of skin irritation symptoms like redness, itchiness, pain, and uneven skin tone.

What damages the barrier and causes skin irritation?

There are a number of factors that can cause skin irritation. Here are some of the most common ways that you can damage your barrier:

• Overuse of mechanical exfoliants such as physical scrubs
• Chemical exfoliants like AHA’s, BHA’s, and retinoids, if used in excess
• Sun exposure
• Dry and windy climates
• Allergens and harsh ingredients like alcohol or fragrance
• Stress

Hint: when you feel your skin becoming sensitized, keep a journal of any factors that could be contributing to it. This will help you determine your personal skin triggers.

How to soothe and protect your barrier

If you are dealing with uncomfortable, sensitive skin, we understand how distressing it can feel. The first thing you’ll want to do is rule out any of the factors we mentioned above. Take a look at your skincare routine and review any items that have harsh active ingredients. Take a break from strong active ingredients temporarily until your skin is feeling balanced and happy again.

Once you’ve stripped back your skincare routine, focus on adding products that are designed to calm irritated skin. Here are our recommendations for soothing skincare products for each step in your routine:

Cleanser: Iunik Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil

Essence: The Pure Lotus Jeju Lotus Leaf Essence

Serum: I’m From Pear Serum

Moisturizer: Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream

Mask: COSRX Cica Calming Sheet Mask – we love to keep several of these on hand for any skin irritation emergencies!

All of these products contain deeply hydrating, calming, and nourishing ingredients which will help to heal your skin barrier. If you decide to add acids or strong actives back into your routine once your skin is feeling better, we recommend you use them minimally. Start with once per week and see how your skin feels. Keep your barrier healthy by being gentle with your skin and focusing on hydration.

Do you have questions about your skin barrier and products that support it? Comment your questions in the comments down below and reach out to us on Instagram @shopproprlifestyle. We’d love to hear from you!