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‘Barrier’ isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the very foundation of great skin health in the long run. We list 8 moisturising products to enrich your skin barrier

8 moisturisers to help repair your skin barrier

‘Barrier’ isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the very foundation of great skin health in the long run. We put together a list of moisturising products that will fortify and enrich your skin barrier

While 2022 was the year of many emerging beauty trends, ‘barrier’, among the buzziest words from last year, emerged as the clear winner. The hashtag #skinbarrier boasts over 2,35,000 posts on Instagram and garnered a whopping 302.2 million views on TikTok, as of March 2022. Needless to say, the penchant towards skin barrier and, thereby, barrier-repairing products, is here to stay.

One of the most crucial functions of the skin, the body’s largest organ, is to act as a barrier between everything that’s on the inside and outside of the body, believes New Delhi-based dermatologist Dr Meghna Gupta. However, she intimates that the skin barrier is prone to damage, “From environmental aggressors like harsh wind, sun and pollution to conditions like eczema, allergy or rashes, dermatitis and psoriasis—any of these factors can spur barrier damage.” According to Gupta, using the wrong skincare products as well as using products incorrectly can be equally menacing for your barrier. We put together a list of high-performing moisturisers that will help improve your skin’s barrier in the long run. 

d’you, in my defenceWhen homegrown skincare brand d’you’s founder Shamika Haldipurkar posted before and after images sharing how this moisturiser helped her skin overcome a major dry spell caused by a potent active, we gave the product a shot and we’re happy to report that it delivers. The higher-than-industry-standards concentration of ceramides, fatty acids, panthenol and more combined with the lightweight and quick-absorbing nature of the cream makes it the perfect everyday moisturiser for all skin types, including sensitive, damaged and irritated skin.  You can also use an extra pump as a spot treatment on areas that are severely agitated.  Ritika_Shah

d’you, in my defence

When homegrown skincare brand d’you’s founder Shamika Haldipurkar posted before and after images sharing how this moisturiser helped her skin overcome a major dry spell caused by a potent active, we gave the product a shot and we’re happy to report that it delivers. The higher-than-industry-standards concentration of ceramides, fatty acids, panthenol and more combined with the lightweight and quick-absorbing nature of the cream makes it the perfect everyday moisturiser for all skin types, including sensitive, damaged and irritated skin.  You can also use an extra pump as a spot treatment on areas that are severely agitated. 

Ritika_Shah

The Formula Rx, Barrier ReliefThere is a lot more to this moisturiser than the covetable pharmacy-fashioned tube. For starters, the product—and the brand—has been developed by a dermatologist who has thoughtfully fabricated it for damage recovery by infusing barrier-fortifying ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, fatty acids, colloidal oatmeal, vitamin E, linoleic acid and niacinamide while keeping the non-comedogenic promise. Suitable for every skin type, this moisturiser promises immense value for money. 

The Formula Rx, Barrier Relief

There is a lot more to this moisturiser than the covetable pharmacy-fashioned tube. For starters, the product—and the brand—has been developed by a dermatologist who has thoughtfully fabricated it for damage recovery by infusing barrier-fortifying ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, fatty acids, colloidal oatmeal, vitamin E, linoleic acid and niacinamide while keeping the non-comedogenic promise. Suitable for every skin type, this moisturiser promises immense value for money. 

Dr. Jart Ceramidin CreamFrom Gigi Hadid to beauty editors worldwide, every skincare aficionado is a fan of Dr. Jart’s Ceramidin Cream which is formulated with the eponymous skin expert’s proprietary ceramide complex. Its thick and luxe texture keeps getting better with each application. The nourishing formula—enriched with shea butter, panthenol, botanical extracts and oils—works on the deeper layers of the skin to provide relief from dryness, irritation and compromised barrier health. 

Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream

From Gigi Hadid to beauty editors worldwide, every skincare aficionado is a fan of Dr. Jart’s Ceramidin Cream which is formulated with the eponymous skin expert’s proprietary ceramide complex. Its thick and luxe texture keeps getting better with each application. The nourishing formula—enriched with shea butter, panthenol, botanical extracts and oils—works on the deeper layers of the skin to provide relief from dryness, irritation and compromised barrier health. 

Suganda Squalane Ceramide MoisturizerCrafted specifically for a damaged skin barrier, this cream is charged with a 2.5 per cent ceramide complex, Centella Asiatica, colloidal oat, niacinamide and squalane to soothe parched skin, ease tautness and dry lines as well as heal cracks, inflammation and redness. The nourishing nature of the cream also makes it ideal for over-exfoliated skin, which might otherwise end up damaging the barrier.  

Suganda Squalane Ceramide Moisturizer

Crafted specifically for a damaged skin barrier, this cream is charged with a 2.5 per cent ceramide complex, Centella Asiatica, colloidal oat, niacinamide and squalane to soothe parched skin, ease tautness and dry lines as well as heal cracks, inflammation and redness. The nourishing nature of the cream also makes it ideal for over-exfoliated skin, which might otherwise end up damaging the barrier.  

Innisfree Green Tea Seed CreamImbalanced pH levels are a big trigger for a disrupted skin barrier and yet, many tend to give probiotics—an ingredient that can considerably reverse the aforementioned imbalance—a miss, when trying to improve their skin barrier. Trust this moisturiser, a 2.0 version of the cult Green Tea Seed Cream, to fix your barrier concerns, thanks to the triple complex of probiotics containing fermented dissolution of green tea and hyaluronic acids that soothe, nourish and protect your skin. Needless to say, the antioxidant-rich green tea in the cream is calming and hydrating. 

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream

Imbalanced pH levels are a big trigger for a disrupted skin barrier and yet, many tend to give probiotics—an ingredient that can considerably reverse the aforementioned imbalance—a miss, when trying to improve their skin barrier. Trust this moisturiser, a 2.0 version of the cult Green Tea Seed Cream, to fix your barrier concerns, thanks to the triple complex of probiotics containing fermented dissolution of green tea and hyaluronic acids that soothe, nourish and protect your skin. Needless to say, the antioxidant-rich green tea in the cream is calming and hydrating. 

CeraVe Moisturizing CreamThe likes of Olivia Wilde and Blake Lively swear by this dermatologist-favourite moisturiser for it ensures maximum performance at a minimum price. The no-frills formulation of this global bestseller is what makes it cop-worthy. With a trio of essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and glycerin, this non-comedogenic, fragrance-free and universally suitable moisturiser can be used on your face as well as body. In SOS situations, slap on some more, like a leave-on mask, for faster healing of cracked skin—whether it’s your face or heels.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

The likes of Olivia Wilde and Blake Lively swear by this dermatologist-favourite moisturiser for it ensures maximum performance at a minimum price. The no-frills formulation of this global bestseller is what makes it cop-worthy. With a trio of essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and glycerin, this non-comedogenic, fragrance-free and universally suitable moisturiser can be used on your face as well as body. In SOS situations, slap on some more, like a leave-on mask, for faster healing of cracked skin—whether it’s your face or heels.

Elemis Pro-collagen Marine Cream SPF 30Looking for a daytime cream that works on barrier repair without skimping on sun protection? This one from UK-based skincare brand ELEMIS might make the cut. Its unique gel-to-cream texture, in tandem with superior marine-derived ingredients like Chlorella and Padina Pavonica (both algae that condition and hydrate the skin) and fatty acids, vitamin E, shea butter and wheat germ oil, makes the cream a do-it-all. It not only doubles as a sunscreen but also works well under make-up, firms up the skin, smoothens fine lines and wrinkles and boosts hydration.

Elemis Pro-collagen Marine Cream SPF 30

Looking for a daytime cream that works on barrier repair without skimping on sun protection? This one from UK-based skincare brand ELEMIS might make the cut. Its unique gel-to-cream texture, in tandem with superior marine-derived ingredients like Chlorella and Padina Pavonica (both algae that condition and hydrate the skin) and fatty acids, vitamin E, shea butter and wheat germ oil, makes the cream a do-it-all. It not only doubles as a sunscreen but also works well under make-up, firms up the skin, smoothens fine lines and wrinkles and boosts hydration.

L’Occitane Shea Ultra Rich Face CreamIf you love a creamy and condensed face moisturiser, give this one a shot for it harnesses 25 per cent of nourishing organic shea butter that renders the thick consistency as well as takes the moisturising benefits of the cream a notch up. It’s not the best option for oily and acne-prone skin; however, it can be of great value to skin prone to dryness, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea as it provides deep-layer comfort to the skin.

L’Occitane Shea Ultra Rich Face Cream

If you love a creamy and condensed face moisturiser, give this one a shot for it harnesses 25 per cent of nourishing organic shea butter that renders the thick consistency as well as takes the moisturising benefits of the cream a notch up. It’s not the best option for oily and acne-prone skin; however, it can be of great value to skin prone to dryness, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea as it provides deep-layer comfort to the skin.

Also Read: 8 body moisturisers to get you out of your dry spell

Also Read: Moisturisers to prevent your acne-prone skin from resembling an oil slick

Also Read: How ‘barrier repair’ became the buzzword of the skincare industry

Ria Bhatia profile imageRia Bhatia
Ria Bhatia is the associate beauty editor at The Established. She explores beauty and wellness through industrial, cultural, and social lenses, with bylines in Femina, ELLE India, Harper’s Bazaar India, Masala UAE, and VOGUE India.

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