Now, hearing the term “barrier cream” may inspire you to go to your nearest web browser and type the phrase into your favorite beauty retailer, looking for the next big thing. But barrier creams are truly nothing new in the skin care space. They go by many monikers: ointments, salves, creams, and even more recently, night masks. These all have the same directive: Create a topical barrier to your skin. See, when your skin barrier is weakened or compromised—as is often the case with those who have sensitive or dry skin—something called transepidermal water loss happens. This is when water in your skin evaporates into the air around you, leaving your epidermis thirsty. Healthy, robust skin is able to prevent this from happening mostly on its own. However, some skin types (again, sensitive and dry skin) usually need a bit of help; thus, those with these skin types are often encouraged to use thick creams to seal in moisture. “The microbiome also aids in wound healing, limits exposure to allergens, minimizes oxidative damage, and keeps the skin plump and moist,” according physician Kara Fitzgerald, N.D. So barrier creams with biome-friendly ingredients—such as pre-, pro-, and postbiotics—can help your microbiome flourish, helping your skin stay hydrated and protected. As for pollutants, you can also incorporate antioxidants into the cream, so they can tend to free radical damage that comes with external stressors. You can look for creams with added actives—like vitamin E, niacinamide, and vitamin K—or simply find one formulated with natural plant oils that will have antioxidant properties as well, like jojoba and argan oils. Other ingredients that may fall under this umbrella? Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, or the two minerals used in natural, physical SPF. “Mineral sunscreen ingredients, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, sit on top of the skin to scatter and deflect UV rays, physically blocking them from penetrating the skin,” says King.
