10 Top-Rated Barrier Creams for Intense Repair and Protection

A lot of factors can wear down your skin’s barrier. But what is the skin barrier? “Your skin is made up of several different layers and the outermost layer is your moisture layer, also called your skin barrier. Its job is to keep the bad stuff out and the good stuff in so your skin remains healthy and happy,” she explains.

Think of your skin as a brick-and-mortar wall. “Structurally, the bricks are the skin cells and the mortar is made up of proteins, lipids, and oils that keep the wall strong and intact. When you over-exfoliate and cut into that wall or you over-cleanse or over-strip the skin of its natural oils, you start to damage and break down this very important structure,” she adds. Damage occurs when you scrub your skin too hard or even wax excessively. Shirazi adds that using too many actives can be damaging. “Using a glycolic acid exfoliating cleanser, then a BHA toner can cause over-exfoliation and dehydration of skin cells. Stress, hormones, and disruption of your skin’s microclimate also play a role in damaging your skin barrier,” she says.

Products that contain hydrating ingredients are always best. Look for “hydrating ingredients that replenish the water content and ingredients with anti-inflammatory products,” she says. Shirazi also recommends pausing any active skincare products “to allow the skin to reset and renew itself.” Your skincare ingredients shopping list should include “hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, beta-glucan, ceramides, lipids, oat complexes, pantheon, cholesterol, squalene, and niacinamide,” she says.

Slugging works in the same way as a barrier cream, as it serves as a protectant to soothe and replenish hydration in the skin. Dr. Shirazi is a fan of the skincare practice. “Using an occlusive balm overnight like Vaseline can prevent trans-epidermal water loss to hydrate the skin and protect the skin’s surface to allow self-repair,” she says. Before you start slugging, make sure to remove all traces of makeup “because slugging can trap anything that’s on the skin’s surface, sometimes making it worse. Avoid strong actives like retinol or exfoliants and simply slug on top of clean moisturized skin.”

Dr. Azadeh Shirazi is a California-based board-certified dermatologist and founder of La Jolla Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center who specializes in cosmetic dermatology.

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.