How to Repair a Damaged Skin Barrier

A big buzz word in the world of skincare right now, your skin barrier is super important for your overall skin health. It helps keep moisture in and external stressors out, whether that’s damage caused by UV rays, pollution, overuse of actives and so much more. Sometimes though, your skin barrier might need a little extra TLC, but not to worry – there are lots of things you can do to help repair and support it. From the best barrier-loving No7 products to ways to prevent future damage, here’s our guide to restoring a damaged skin barrier…

The skin barrier is the very top layer of your skin (also known as the stratum corneum). Within this layer, your skin cells stack on top of each other and are held together with lipids (ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids) – almost like bricks.

It’s the first line of defence against environmental aggressors (like pollution, germs or irritants) and also stops moisture from leaving your skin. No matter your skin type, [https://www.no7beauty.co.uk/the-seven/expert-advice/the-skin-youre-in-finding-your-unique-skin-type/], when your skin barrier is working as it should, it helps to keep your skin feeling supple, hydrated and plump.

When your protective barrier becomes weakened, your skin becomes more susceptible to moisture loss and irritation from external aggressors. Common signs of a damaged skin barrier include:

• Dryness: Your skin may often feel dry and tight
• Flaking: Skin could be ashy or flaky
• Breakouts: You might also experience acne breakouts or more blemishes than usual
• Redness: Skin might be redder or darker in colour
• Texture change: Your skin might feel bumpier or rough

What may affect one person’s skin won’t necessarily affect another person in the same way. Understanding what might impact your skin barrier is key to knowing how to repair it. The most common causes of a damaged skin barrier can be split into internal and external factors.

Internal factors can include things like stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, hormonal shifts or genetics.

External factors might include environmental triggers like exposure to harsh weather elements or extreme temperatures, pollution or allergens. It could also include things like over-exfoliation, washing in very hot water or irritation caused by active ingredients in your skincare products.

First things first, if you think your barrier is weakened, you need to identify what could be contributing to this damage. You can then take action to rebuild and restore it. Here are a few simple steps to help get your skin back to its best:

Start by stripping your skincare routine right back, so remove any retinoids or acids for now and avoid common irritants like fragrance.

Opt for a simple cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils or moisture, and go for serums and moisturisers that are specially formulated to help repair and strengthen your skin barrier.

Top tip: Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides (more on these in a moment).

Keep things gentle by washing your face with lukewarm water and avoiding exfoliation. Make sure you’re also popping on a daily SPF to help prevent any future damage from UV rays.

Once you’ve figured out your new routine, try not to switch it around too much as it can take a few weeks to get your skin back under control.

The right ingredients can make a big difference to your skin. When it comes to choosing products, look for barrier-building formulas packed with some of these skin-loving ingredients:

• Ceramides: Help to lock in moisture and protect against environmental stressors
• Niacinamide: Helps restore the moisture barrier and prevent moisture loss
• Fatty acids: Like omega-3 and omega-6 help to support skin’s lipid barrier
• Glycerin: Helps to attract moisture and improve skin’s texture
• Hyaluronic acid: Draws moisture into the skin and helps to keep it hydrated

Our No7 advanced skincare products are formulated with plenty of these barrier-boosting ingredients. Add some (or all) of these to your daily skincare routine to help support and protect your skin…

For daily hydration

Formulated with hyaluronic acid and Matrixyl 3000+™, our Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Day Cream keeps skin hydrated for up to 24 hours, plus SPF 15 helps to protect it from future signs of ageing.

Enriched with green tea, vitamin C and CICA, our Derm Solutions™ CICA Overnight Restoring Treatment visibly reduces redness and works to sooth and calm skin for a more even-looking complexion.

For advanced care

Supercharged with our world-first Pepticology™ technology, our Future Renew™ Damage Reversal Serum is packed full of peptides to support the skin’s natural self-repair process. Don’t just take it from us though, 80% of women said multiple visible signs of skin damage were reversed after using.*

Our Lift & Luminate TRIPLE ACTION Night Cream works while you sleep to provide 24-hour moisture to help nourish and restore skin. Enriched with hydrating shea butter and Matrixyl 3000+™, it truly is beauty sleep in a jar!

Looking for more skincare inspiration? Explore our full No7 skincare collection, designed to help support stronger, smoother-looking skin.

Preventing future damage to your skin barrier 

Maintaining a consistent skincare routine is key to future-proofing your skin barrier. Try to choose gentle skincare products that don’t irritate your skin and avoid overusing actives. Start slow with any new products and gradually increase usage over time. It’s also super important to keep skin protected with SPF every day.

A prevention plan can also be a good idea. For example, if you know cold weather affects your skin, opt for more hydrating serums and a richer moisturiser to create a nourishing winter skincare routine to help prevent seasonal skin issues.

It’s also really important to prioritise sleep. This is when your body’s natural repair process takes place, so aim for between seven to nine hours a night to give your skin a helping hand.

Final thoughts: repair starts with care

Above all, make sure to listen to your skin. Avoid any triggers you think might have caused damage in the past and adopt preventative measures to help minimise future issues. If your barrier does feel a little compromised, remember to take things back to basics and be patient with your skin, a little time and consistency can work wonders.