14 Products To Repair Your Skin Barrier

Our skin barrier is our body’s first defence against the outside world, resposible for protecting us against external aggressors like bacteria, pollution, and UV rays, and also for locking moisture in to keep skin healthy and hydrated. But what happens when our skin barrier gets damaged? Everything from harsh weather conditions to over-exfoliation can damage the skin barrier, leading to dryness, dehydration, and increased sensitivity.

While our number one tip for preventing skin barrier damage is to go easy on the active ingredients and exfoliants, if you do find yourself with a compromised barrier, you’re going to need to bolster your routine with products that help to soothe and strengthen. Featuring reparative ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, squalane, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, these are some of the best products for repairing your skin barrier.

This rich (but not greasy) cream heroes two oat-based ingredients, colloidal oatmeal and oat lipids. Both are renowned for their abilities to soothe and repair inflamed and damaged skin.

Formulated for very dry skin types (but perfect for any skin type with a damaged skin barrier to use), this rich balm-like moisturiser packs skin with soothing and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, evening primrose oil, and allantoin.

If a moisturiser alone doesn’t quite cut it, you can finish off your evening skincare routine with a balm or an oil to seal everything in. This thick balm acts like a temporary barrier, preventing moisture from escaping skin while also infusing it with even more hydrating ingredients.

Dr. Jart+’s Ceramidin range (which includes a moisturiser, serum, essence, and mist) is amazing for repairing and moisturising a damaged skin barrier. The latest addition to the collection is this super-thick moisturiser, which can be used all over as a night cream or to target areas of sore, dry skin.

Derived from sugar cane and olives, squalane is an oil-like ingredient, perfect for nourishing and moisturising skin. Unlike regular oils, it’s surprisingly non-greasy so can be tolerated by all skin types. It’s commonly found in a lot of moisturisers and oil blends, but this treatment presents the ingredient on its own – perfect for sensitive skin.

Unlike regular toners which are thin and watery, this Laneige one is more of a cream-like texture. It’s soothing, calming, and essentially acts like a moisturiser via the format of a toner. Use it to provide an initial layer of hydration to skin before applying your serums and moisturiser.

CeraVe are the authority on providing hydrating, barrier-repairing products that are suitable for sensitive skin. They have a full range of cleansers and moisturisers, but we’re particularly obsessed with this serum. It’s thick in texture so provides an immediate moisture boost.

This fast-acting balm works in just 30 seconds to soothe skin that’s feeling sore and irritated. What’s more, it works in the long-term to restore the skin barrier within 48 hours.

Formulated with the skin barrier in mind, and packed with skin-strengthening ingredients like ceramides and amino fatty acids, this lightweight but nourishing serum by Glow Hub is the ideal product to apply underneath your moisturiser.

If you’ve overdone it with acids, retinoids, and excessive exfoliation, this serum by The Ordinary is the antidote. It’s thick, soothing, and packed with skin barrier-nourishing ingredients. No matter how sore or sensitive your skin feels, this is the ultimate comfort blanket.

Formulated with the skin barrier in mind, and packed with skin-strengthening ingredients like ceramides and amino fatty acids, this lightweight but nourishing serum is the ideal product to apply underneath your moisturiser.

Squalane, ceramides, and peptides are combined within this milky serum which helps to rehydrate skin in both the long term and the short term.

When you’re dealing with dry, sensitive skin and it feels like none of your products are cutting it, apply this as an extra and final step in your evening skincare routine. It’s an ultra-thick, nourishing balm which melts onto skin and seals moisture in.

More like a serum in texture than a toner, this creamy solution packs moisture into skin, nourishing and strengthening the skin barrier. It’s the perfect extra step to kickstart your hydration routine – apply it after cleansing and before serum and moisturiser.