Your skin is the largest organ, working around the clock to keep you protected from free radicals such as environmental stressors, UV radiation, and bacteria. When it feels tight, dry, or irritated, applying a moisturizer might seem like the right solution. While moisturizers can provide quick relief, barrier repair creams are able to penetrate deeper into your skin to target the root of the skin concern, rather than just the surface symptoms. In this guide, you’ll learn what your skin barrier does, how barrier repair creams differ from regular moisturizers, and how to keep your skin healthy and resilient.
What is Your Skin Barrier?
Your skin barrier, or stratum corneum is the outermost layer of your skin, and is your body’s natural shield against irritants, free radicals, and pollution, while keeping good things, like water. When your skin barrier is healthy, your complexion looks and feels healthy, refreshed, and glowing. When your skin barrier is weak, it can be more prone to dryness, sensitivity, redness, or breakouts. Other factors like over-exfoliation, harsh weather, UV radiation, and oxidative stress from free radicals can damage the skin’s barrier. When your skin barrier becomes compromised, tiny cracks form in its protective layer, letting moisture escape and bacteria to come in.
Symptoms of a Compromised Skin Barrier Include:
- Redness and inflammation
- Dryness, flakiness, or a tight feeling
- Increased sensitivity
- Breakouts
- Uneven texture and tone
Hydrate Skin With a Moisturizer
Regular moisturizers often have ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which act like magnets to pull water from the air and the deeper layers of the skin, then sealing them in to hydrate, protect, and support barrier repair. Moisturizers are great for managing mild to occasional dry skin. HPPY’s Prep + Illuminate Gel Moisturizer is formulated by our BioBerry Infusion™ to deliver lasting hydration and broad antioxidant protection while smoothing, strengthening, and plumping your skin for a glowing complexion.
Repair Skin With Barrier Repair Cream
A barrier repair cream goes beyond just hydrating your skin, but is also designed to rebuild your skin’s barrier. Packed with ingredients like ceramides, peptides, and fatty acids, barrier repair creams work beneath the surface to strengthen, soothe, and protect. By adding a barrier repair cream to your routine, this can help your skin become healthier and more resilient. HPPY’s Restore + Repair Barrier Cream deeply hydrates with peptides and our BioBerry Infusion™ to strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture for healthy glow.
When Do You Need a Barrier Repair Cream?
- If your skin feels tight, dry, or dehydrated
- If your skin is flaky or scaly
- If you notice redness, irritation, or sensitivity
- As a preventative measure for sensitive skin vulnerable to irritation or chafing
- After sun exposure to help calm and restore the skin
- After using retinoids or exfoliating acids to help mitigate potential irritation
Barrier Repair Cream or Regular Moisturizer
Choosing between a regular moisturizer and a barrier repair cream depends on your skin's needs and your skin type. A regular moisturizer is good for maintaining hydration, and should be part of any skincare routine. However, if your skin barrier is compromised, using a barrier repair cream will be key to help rebuild and strengthen its protective outer layer because it penetrates deeper into your skin.
Barrier Repair Cream & Regular Moisturizer FAQs
Can I use both a barrier repair cream and a regular moisturizer?
Yes, many people use a lighter moisturizer in the morning and layer a richer barrier-repair cream at night for deeper hydration.
Will a barrier repair cream clog pores?
A non-comedogenic formulation won’t clog pores and can help strengthen and balance your skin’s barrier.
Can I use a barrier repair cream every day?
Yes, barrier creams can be used daily, especially if your skin is sensitive, dry, or easily irritated.
Is a barrier repair cream only for dry skin?
While especially beneficial for dry skin, barrier creams also help other skin types when the skin barrier is compromised from acne treatments, over-cleansing, or exfoliating.
Can a barrier repair cream be used on sensitive skin?
Yes! HPPY’s Restore + Repair Barrier Cream is generally safe for sensitive skin. However, as with any skincare product, it’s important to patch test first.
