Experiencing dry, sensitive, or irritated skin no matter what you apply? Getting random breakouts and inflamed skin and not understanding what’s causing this? Chances are, your skin barrier—the unsung hero of healthy, glowing skin—might be damaged. There’s no need to stress. It’s not permanent, with the right care, you can rebuild it stronger than ever.
What is the skin barrier?
Our skin is made up of layers that perform important functions in protecting our body. The outermost layer is our skin barrier, also called the Stratum Corneum or the lipid matrix. This layer is crucial as it’s our body’s first line of defence and forms a protective layer between you and the world. This layer is made up of skin cells and fatty molecules and forms a brick and mortar structure where the ‘bricks’ are the skin cells called keratinocytes and the ‘cement’ or the ‘glue’ that hold these cells together are the lipid / fat molecules of cholesterol, fatty acids and ceramides. Typically the Stratum Corneum composition is 50% Ceramides, 25% Cholesterol, and 25% Fatty Acids.
When your skin barrier is intact, it keeps moisture in and environmental aggressors out. When your skin barrier is damaged i.e. the brick and mortar structure gets loosened, the first sign is dehydration because more water starts leaving your skin than what remains in the skin. Your skin will start to feel dry, tight, itchy, or even develop a rough texture. Your skin may also become more reactive, and may feel especially sensitive to heat, cold, dry air, or certain skin care products. An extremely damaged barrier can also lead to visible bacterial or viral infections.
Repairing skin barrier damage
Your skin barrier works tirelessly to protect you, but when it’s compromised, it needs the right support to bounce back. When looking to repair your damaged barrier, you’ll often come across ceramide-rich moisturisers. They are everywhere, and they do play a huge role in barrier repair because ceramides are naturally abundant in the stratum corneum. However, ceramides alone aren’t a magic fix.
Ceramides work best when they’re paired with cholesterol and fatty acids. Together, they’re the holy trinity of barrier care ingredients! They are naturally occurring lipids (fats) in your skin, and each one is crucial for its overall health. If even one of these is out of balance, your skin barrier becomes compromised. Studies have determined that a combination of all these lipids together are better for barrier repair than just isolated ceramides.
Research shows that these ingredients are most effective when combined in what we call the golden ratio: ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids in the 3:1:1 ratio. This specific ratio mimics how these lipids are found naturally in your skin (50%, 25%, 25%) and is proven to accelerate barrier recovery far better than using them in any other combination. It’s all about recreating the skin’s own structure so it can heal itself.
We kept this science at the forefront when formulating in my defence. It has ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids in this optimal ratio of 3:1:1 with other barrier building ingredients that fortify your skin barrier from within. Regular use makes your skin barrier stronger, more resilient and better equipped to protect itself on its own.
The golden ratio is more than just skincare jargon; it’s the blueprint for stronger, healthier skin. So, if you have a damaged skin barrier, you know what to reach for.