Exfoliated too hard? Reset your skin with moisture-retaining ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and squalane to boost barrier function.
When it comes to skin care, we often get caught up in the latest TikTok trends and experimenting with trendy ingredients like witch hazel, forgetting that skin care is ultimately a science. Our skin’s job is to protect us — it acts as a barrier to protect the body from external aggressors such as bacteria, pollution, and UV rays. But, as we routinely use products like harsh chemical exfoliants, we may inadvertently harm our skin barrier. The skin barrier is the outermost layer of the skin (also known as the epidermis) that guards against external stressors.
Below, take a look at 15 of the most effective, anti-inflammatory formulas for addressing barrier damage and nourishing compromised skin — you’re welcome.
Best Overall: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
Dr. Jart+ launched an upgraded version of its beloved Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream, with twice the 5-Cera Complex to help build up the skin barrier. It’s also chockfull of hydrating panthenol, making it a great option for all skin types, but especially those with rough, dry, itchy skin.
Our reviewer, who has extremely dry skin and papulopustular rosacea, noticed more hydrated and less irritated skin after just three days of use. Allure commerce editor Sarah Han is a big fan and loves to pair the cream with the corresponding Ceramidin Skin Barrier Serum Toner ($39) for an extra punch of skin-softening goodness.
Best for Brighter Skin: SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen Activating Serum
SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen Activating Serum
This fast-acting Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen Activating Serum is worth splurging on because it contains 10 clinical actives, including niacinamide and peptides, to give you visibly brighter-looking skin in just one hour according to the brand’s clinical studies. Dr. Saedi also loves the brand’s Best of Beauty-winning Barrier + Lipid Peptide Cream because it “contains a combination of peptides and lipids to smoothen and strengthen the skin barrier.”
Best Redness Soother: Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream
Reactive skin has met its match with Dermalogica’s Stabilizing Repair Cream. From the second the formula hits the skin, the soothing benefits kick in. This balmy cream features a proprietary ceramide-building complex that boosts ceramide production, thus providing long-term barrier health benefits. To address instances of redness and itchiness — whether you have naturally sensitive skin or have just had a procedure — there’s a blend of deeply hydrating resurrection plant, anti-inflammatory lanceolata, and boerhavia diffusa root (a plant commonly used to alleviate pain) to thank.
Best for Post-Treatment Skin: SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair
Although the texture of the Epidermal Repair lotion is light and airy, it should not be underestimated. You only need a pea-sized amount to nurse your skin barrier back to health after an intense facial treatment like laser resurfacing or microdermabrasion. It’s formulated with a soothing combination of sodium palmitoyl proline and nymphea alba flower extract to calm irritated skin and ease any discomfort.
Best for Treating Fine Lines: Paula’s Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol
Paula’s Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer has a light, creamy texture that absorbs in seconds, visibly improves redness and uneven tone, and helps the skin look plumper. It also doubles as an elasticity-boosting treatment, thanks to its use of retinol which has been proven to visibly firm the skin and decrease the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
For the Skinimalist: Tower 28 SOS Daily Barrier Recovery Cream
Call the SOS Daily Barrier Recovery Cream basic — because that’s exactly what this no-frills, sensitive-skin-friendly moisturizer sets out to be. Drench your skin in hydration with four types of hydrating hyaluronic acid, plus barrier-boosting ceramides and calming allantoin to reel in redness and irritation day and night.
If you’ve been burned by moisturizers in the past, you’ll be glad to see that, like the other fragrance-free SOS (Save.Our.Skin) products, Daily Barrier Recovery Cream has the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association.
Best for Extremely Dry Skin: Caudalie Premier Cru The Rich Cream
For immediate relief from redness, flakiness, and peeling (a hallmark of a damaged skin barrier), consider this Premier Cru The Rich Cream from Caudalie. It errs on the pricier side of things, but it’s worth it to bathe your skin in a luxurious blend of lipid-replenishing bio-ceramides that prevent water loss. Did we mention that its sibling, The Cream, won a 2022 Best of Beauty Award? If you thought that formula was indulgent, just you wait.
Best Affordable Serum That Punches Above its Weight: KraveBeauty Great Barrier Relief
This creamy, nourishing Great Barrier Relief Serum from KraveBeauty is the perfect one-two punch as it restores your damaged skin barrier while simultaneously evening out your complexion. It’s loaded with reparative ingredients such as tamanu oil, niacinamide, and ceramides which are essential to skin health.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Another one of Dr. Saedi’s top picks, this La Roche-Posay hydrator has a light consistency and contains ceramides and glycerin to strengthen the barrier and lock in moisture. It’s oil-free, making it a great option for those who suffer from acne-prone skin. Slather it on your face and neck daily for immediate comfort.
Most Healing Treatment: Alastin Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar
“This is a great post-procedural ointment that isn’t overly occlusive yet provides hydration, repair, and skin barrier protection,” Leah Ansell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Treiber Dermatology Associates and assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia in New York City notes. Laser treatments aside, when your skin is feeling stripped or overly dry from exfoliating, layer on this concoction of calming arnica montana extract and naringenin to immediately soothe skin. In addition, the brand’s proprietary TriHex Technology boosts the skin’s ability to produce elastin and collagen — resulting in plumper, stronger skin.
Best for Dry Patches: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream
This thick yet fast-absorbing cream feels sinful as you apply it, relieving dry patches, making the skin appear visibly smoother, and reducing redness. It contains a blend of glycerin, urea, and squalane which provide intense hydration to the skin. No level of dryness is too severe for this cream — here’s looking at you, scaly winter skin.
Best for Gentle Exfoliation: Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum
This reasonably priced serum is specially formulated with five types of synthetic ceramides and lipids that mimic and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. A little goes a long way — you only need two to three for your entire face. With regular use, you’ll notice a significant reduction in redness caused by ongoing skin irritation. Bonus: Lactic acid helps slough off dead skin cells so that the aforementioned goodness absorbs more deeply.
Best Lightweight Cream: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Rich Barrier Moisturizer
The lightweight cream is part of the same product family as the Best of Beauty-winning Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydrating Body Cream. In case you need further convincing of its hydrating powers, the soft and weightless formula is anchored by the brand’s patented moisture barrier-boosting complex which works to counter the effects of dehydrators and provide up to 120 hours of increased hydration.
Best for Eczema-Prone Skin: Murad Daily Defense Colloidal Oatmeal Cream
Another recipient of the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, this cream contains a proprietary mixture of colloidal oatmeal, niacinamide, and mondo grass sugars, which retains essential moisture and lipids, strengthening the skin from within while also prolonging relief from eczema flare-ups. The sealed pump is also great for those of us who are prone to making a mess in the bathroom, and there’s less potential for the spread of bacteria.
Best All-Over Treatment: Nécessaire The Body Cream
As we all know, dryness doesn’t stop at the face or neck. That’s where Nécessaire’s The Body Cream comes in handy to soothe dry, flaky skin in often overlooked areas of our bodies. Formulated with five ceramides, colloidal oatmeal, 5% niacinamide, and 1% linoleic acid, this body cream replenishes a dry, damaged skin barrier by providing moisture, healing, and comfort.
How does the skin barrier become damaged?
When not properly protected, “the skin barrier can start to crack, which can leave the skin more vulnerable to free radical damage,” Florida-based board-certified dermatologist Lesley Clark-Loeser, MD, tells Allure.
To be even more specific, “our skin barrier gets damaged from extreme weather, sun exposure, medical conditions, physical damage such as over-exfoliating, and also age,” explains board-certified dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD, who is based in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. “Over time, ingredients like alcohol and glycolic acid can be abrasive to the skin if overused.” Dr. Clark-Loeser’s number-one tip? Go easy on the exfoliation — try simplifying your skin-care routine — in order to maintain a healthy skin barrier. Additionally, the skin barrier can become damaged by frequent hot showers, not using a moisturizer, and certain medications, so take note.
Which skin barrier repair ingredients should I look out for?
Another way to maintain a healthy skin barrier is to add a barrier repair product, which is strategically formulated to address the specific needs of the skin barrier, to your routine. Where traditional moisturizing products provide supplemental hydration to the skin, “barrier repair products help to repair the skin’s barrier to help skin better retain moisture and prevent environmental damage,” explains Dr. Clark-Loeser. If you’re unsure what ingredients to seek out in a barrier repair cream, San Diego-based board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm, MD, previously told us to look for “ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, squalane, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramides.”
How often should I use barrier repair products?
Consistency is key. Our experts recommended applying the product at least once a day, ideally after cleansing, to help reinforce the skin’s natural protective barrier and keep it hydrated. For those with particularly dry or damaged skin, using the product twice daily can be beneficial in helping to restore and maintain the skin’s health. Just remember, it’s important to use the product as directed and not overuse it, as this can lead to further irritation.
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of barrier repair treatments, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
