People With Great Skin Are Obsessed With Their Skin Barrier—Here's Why

Whilst our skin barrier is nothing new (we all have one, after all), it's certainly become a bit of a beauty buzz term in the past couple of years, and for good reason. Growing use of active ingredients like exfoliating acids and retinoids in our skincare routines has resulted in many of us unknowingly going a little overboard. The result? Increased skin sensitivity, redness, dry skin and a rise in cases of perioral dermatitis. All common signs of a damaged skin barrier.

This explains why over the past year, there's been a slew of new products with a focus on soothing and repairing skin, and even entirely new brands dedicated to the sole purpose of looking after our skin barrier.

The thing is, whilst acids and retinoids are amazing ingredients for brightening, smoothing, and clearing skin, it's important to know how they impact skin barrier health, and in turn, why it's so important to keep the skin barrier front of mind in your skincare routine. But what exactly is the skin barrier, and why is it so important? Ahead, dermatologist Dr Cristina Psomadakis answers all of our questions about the skin barrier and offers her best tips and top product recommendations.

What Is the Skin Barrier, and Why Is It so Important?

"The skin barrier is the topmost layer of our skin, and its function is really to keep the good things in and the bad things out," explains Dr Psomadakis. "It is sort of a protective wall that bears the brunt of harsh chemicals, strong wind, sun and rain, abrasive clothing and injury. If our skin barrier is damaged, it is like having a faulty wall in the house; things can get in, causing infection or pain, and things can escape, like heat and hydration."

What Are the Signs of Skin Barrier Damage?

As a beauty editor, I test products for a living, so I'm definitely guilty of overdoing it sometimes with my skincare. However, understanding the "red flags" of a compromised skin barrier has really helped me to know when I've gone too far and need to rein things back in and focus on barrier repair.

"A damaged skin barrier can look flaky, red or raw, it can feel itchy, dry, stingy or sensitive," says Dr Psomadakis. "These are all symptoms and signs that your skin has taken a hit and needs some time and gentle care to recover." Personally, when I notice products stinging upon application, or my skin looks particularly red (especially around the centre of my face), these are all key warning signs that my skin barrier might be compromised.

How Can We Repair a Damaged Skin Barrier?

"It is really important to recognise if there is an underlying cause behind the impaired skin barrier and the best way to address it," explains Dr Psomadakis. "If the damage is down to a medical skin condition that can be chronic, you might need long-term use of rich moisturisers and medical therapies."

"If it is due to something temporary, like the result of a sunburn or over-exfoliating, then time and a gentle fragrance-free moisturiser are key," she adds. "Time is a great healer, but look out for gentle ingredients like ceramides and natural moisturising factors, and avoid products with fragrance whilst the skin heals."

How Can We Avoid Damaging the Skin Barrier?

Of course, skin barrier repair isn't just a one-and-done solution. It's essential to understand the root causes of skin barrier damage to prevent it from occurring again. According to Dr Psomadakis, sometimes a damaged skin barrier can be beyond our control, the result of a medical condition like eczema or psoriasis. "Everyone needs to be mindful of environmental factors that can damage the skin barrier, such as harsh weather, habits or products, so we can reduce our exposure to them."

If you're guilty of over-exfoliating your skin or layering too many products with active ingredients, simplifying your skincare routine and reducing your use of exfoliating products is a great start. Everything from cleansers and serums to moisturisers and face masks can support your skin barrier, and a barrier cream can be a worthy addition to your routine if you're keen to focus on rebuilding.

A barrier cream is a type of moisturiser specifically designed to strengthen and protect the outermost layer of your skin, which keeps moisture in and irritants out. Unlike regular creams, barrier creams often contain high doses of ingredients like ceramides, fatty acids and occlusive agents that form a protective layer on the skin, helping to lock in hydration and shield your skin from environmental stressors. You may not need to use one daily, but they’re especially useful if your skin feels sensitive, reactive or easily dehydrated, as they create a calming, restorative layer that supports the skin’s natural defences whilst preventing further moisture loss or irritation.

Essentially, a barrier cream doesn’t just moisturise—it reinforces your skin’s ability to stay healthy, resilient and balanced. Shop the best barrier creams below.

Shop the Best Skin Barrier Products

• Best cream overall: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 (£15)
• Best affordable cream: E45 Intensive Barrier Repair (£11)
• Best rich cream: Rhode Barrier Restore Cream (£32)
• Best soothing cream: Aveeno Face Calm + Restore Oat Rich Balm (£15)
• Best balm-like cream: Glossier After Baume Moisture Barrier Recovery Cream (£30)

1. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

2. E45 Intensive Barrier Repair

3. Rhode Barrier Restore Cream

4. Aveeno Face Calm + Restore Oat Rich Balm

5. Glossier After Baume Moisture Barrier Recovery Cream

6. Byoma Barrier+ Repair Treatment

7. Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm

8. Dr. Sam's Flawless Moisturiser Intense

9. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Cream

10. Tower28 SOS Daily Barrier Recovery Cream

11. Allies of Skin Molecular Barrier Recovery Cream Balm

How We Chose

To determine the best skin barrier products, I focused on barrier creams designed to strengthen and protect the skin’s natural barrier. I assessed key factors such as hydration levels, skin reactivity and overall barrier health, paying close attention to how the creams reduced dryness, redness or irritation. Ingredients were evaluated for their effectiveness in supporting the skin barrier, and texture, absorption and wearability were also considered to ensure the products not only worked well but felt great on the skin.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts, including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.