What is the skin barrier and why you must take care of it
Our skin has a natural layer of protection called the skin barrier. This is the topmost layer of the skin that protects it from harmful substances like bacteria or viruses. A healthy skin barrier on our faces keeps it hydrated and acne-free. If you're experiencing skin troubles, it’s possible that the skin barrier is not at its best state.
A good skincare routine can help maintain a healthy skin barrier. Help strengthen it and improve its overall health with the following tips!
Use a low pH cleanser to maintain the acid mantle
The acid mantle is the skin barrier’s outermost protective layering. This is a film of skin oils and acids that serves as a natural barrier between the deeper layers of our skin and the bacteria that we come across in our day to day lives. Having a basic pH or a level above the natural pH of skin damages the acid mantle. If your skin feels dry and tight after cleansing, chances are you've been using a high pH facial cleanser
The face is naturally acidic with a pH level of 4.2 - 5.6. To maintain this, choose a low pH cleanser like our Low pH Rose Gel Cleanser (P375/P675) to wash your face without stripping away your skin’s oils and natural moisture.
Exfoliate your skin to encourage turnover from old to new skin
Exfoliation is a key skincare step as this helps to remove dead skin cells and encourages the turnover of new cells. Studies also say that exfoliation leads to healthier skin that has less inflammation and risk of wrinkles.
You can use a chemical exfoliator like our Glow Job 5% Glycolic Acid Gel Cream (P775) once a week. This has 5% glycolic acid which helps to encourage collagen production as well as improve skin tone and texture. For deeper cleansing and to remove any flaky skin, check out our Petal Skin Rose Clay Mask (P875) which has French Green Clay, the gentlest type of clay mask.
Moisturizer is a must
All types of skin need moisturizer, even those with oily skin! The skin depends on lipids to stay soft, supple, hydrated, and protected against irritants. To keep lipids at healthy levels, regularly moisturizing skin is a must.
A good moisturizer can either have humectants, emollients, or occlusives. Humectants draw moisture from surrounding areas, and will help add moisture to the skin. Emollient agents, on the other hand, are products that soften and soothe dry skin. Occlusives are products that form a film barrier on the skin to prevent the moisture from evaporating from the skin. Our Rose Gel Serum Moisturizer (P895) contains emollients like linoleic acid and occlusives like argan oil packed in a gel-based formula so it sinks into the skin without the sticky feel.
Keep your skin barrier happy for better skin!