Is your beauty routine helping to repair your skin barrier?
In this post we help you to build a natural barrier repair routine for dry, damaged skin by asking Green People’s founder, Charlotte Vøhtz, to explain what skin really needs for effective repair.
How to know if your skin barrier is damaged
The skin barrier (stratum corneum) found in the epidermis (the upper layer of skin) is your first line of defence against environmental aggressors, irritation and dehydration. it is regularly exposed to aggressors like temperature fluctuations, infrared radiation, sunlight, and air pollution and as such, it is particularly vulnerable to damage.
A good analogy to use when understanding the functions of the skin barrier is to look at your skin as if it is a brick walk. The cells are the bricks, and the mortar is made of various lipids.
An effective brick wall will consist of bricks and mortar. If there’s not enough mortar, or it is cracked in places, then water can evaporate through the wall and aggressors, such as pollutants, can easily penetrate through.
The same process can happen with your skin. If your skin is damaged and your skin barrier function is impaired, you may notice that your skin is more prone to dehydration and frequently feels, dry, tight, flaky and uncomfortable.
Damaged skin may also be more prone to conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. It can also feel more sensitive and can easily become itchy, inflamed, or reddened by aggressors including pollutants and irritants found in your beauty routine.
What can cause skin barrier damage
All skin types can be prone to damage, and this can be caused by many lifestyle factors.
Those with skin conditions, such as eczema, may have lower levels of Squalene in their skin and this can mean that they are more vulnerable to dehydration and an impaired barrier function.
Overuse of actives that are not compatible with the skin’s natural pH also risks compromising the performance of the skin barrier by stripping it of the protective lipids (natural fats) and oils that it relies on to function effectively.
How to repair your skin barrier naturally
You can help to support skin’s repair processes naturally by establishing a hydrating skin care routine that supports the ‘mortar’ of the skin to protect against water loss, irritation, and further damage.
The following section of this blog discusses some of my favourite actives for nurturing a strong and healthy skin barrier.
Best natural beauty actives for skin barrier repair
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
An imbalance of essential fatty acids (EFAs) can be a contributing factor to dry skin. Found in a balanced diet and in some plant oil skin care ingredients, EFAs nourish the skin and help it to absorb the vitamins and mineral that it needs for good health.
Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9 are all EFAs and can found in Rosehip Oil, a reparative oil with rejuvenating properties.
Another great source of Omega-6 is Sunflower Oil which, along with Rosehip Oil, Myrrh (an essential oil known to encourage skin healing) and Jojoba (a highly protective oil/liquid wax rich in Omega-7 and -9), is used to create One Balm.
One Balm is our multi-tasking natural barrier balm that can both be used as a cleansing balm and to gently care for patches of dry skin or eczema, cuticles and lips.
The Omega-rich plant oils in One Balm also make this product particularly effective for removing make-up. It is ideal for use as the first step of a routine to help repair a damaged skin barrier.
ONE Balm 30ml
Use this organic multi-purpose beauty balm to soothe lips, cuticles and dry skin
£15.00
HYDRATION
Hydration is the key to protecting a damaged skin barrier skin from further irritation.
Dry, damaged skin can quickly become dehydrated, and a natural barrier repair skin routine should feature moisture-binding ingredients that help skin hold onto hydration.
Avoid cleansers with harsh ingredients such as ethanol/ethyl alcohol and SLS that can cause further dryness or irritation. Instead choose a skin-friendly cleanser to purify the skin whilst retaining hydration.
Both our Gentle Cleanse and its unfragranced equivalent, Scent Free Cleanser, are rich in hydrating Aloe Vera and nourishing Shea Butter and softening Olive Squalane to help skin stay hydrated as you cleanse.
HYALURONIC ACID
Another hydrating active that is essential for skin barrier repair is Hyaluronic Acid. Naturally present in the skin, we produce less Hyaluronic Acid as we age, and this process can leave the skin barrier vulnerable to dryness.
Using a lightweight serum that’s formulated with Hyaluronic Acid can help to counteract this by helping to anchor moisture to the skin.
Hydration in a bottle, Nordic Roots Hyaluronic Booster Serum uses Sodium Hyaluronate, a sodium salt of Hyaluronic Acid. This makes for an intensely hydrating skin serum.
The lightweight molecular make-up of this serum means it penetrates the skin very fast and makes it particularly well suited to sealing gaps in the skin barrier as it delivers intense hydration deep within the skin.
To help Nordic Roots Hyaluronic Booster Serum absorb efficiently and support good skin circulation, tap the serum into freshly cleansed skin morning and night.
Nordic Roots Hyaluronic Booster Serum 28ml
This scent-free Hyaluronic Acid serum is pure hydration in a bottle
LIPIDS
Lipids are natural fats that are essential for skin barrier repair. The skin’s natural built-in moisturiser, they are typically found in-between cells in the epidermis (the top layer of skin) and help skin to regulate water loss so that it does not become dry, itchy and irritable.
When the skin barrier becomes damaged, cracks can form between the cells. This can result in water loss and a decline in Squalene, the skin’s principal lipid. Squalene levels also drop as we get older.
To counteract this, feed your skin Squalane skin care. Extracted from Olive Oil, Squalane is ultra-gentle and upon contact with the skin, it converts to Squalene to restore a healthy, moisture retaining lipid balance.
You can find Squalane in many Green People skin care products including Nordic Roots Marine Facial Oil. The final step in a skin-barrier supporting skin care routine, this conditioning face oil seals the hydrating properties of your serum into the skin.
It can also be blended with Hyaluronic Booster Serum to make an intensely moisturising face treat.
Nordic Roots Marine Facial Oil 28ml
Nourish and glow with this unscented facial oil for sensitive skin
£32.00
Discover our natural and organic beauty products or contact our helpful UK customer care team on 01403 740350 for more information on how to repair the skin barrier naturally, with organic plant actives.
