Your skin has its own natural defense mechanism that offers protection to the skin against the environment’s harmful effects. Environmental stressors like pollutants, UV rays, heat, humidity, and allergens are some of the root causes of damaged skin. These factors can harm your skin on a serious level; the only thing keeping these environmental stressors from harming your skin is your skin’s barrier. Your skin barrier acts as a defense mechanism that guards your skin and keeps it protected from harmful pathogens and irritants. Considering your skin barrier function plays a crucial role in keeping your skin youthful and healthy, it’s imperative to maintain it.
The lipid barrier, which is the outermost layer of the epidermis, not only helps prevent moisture loss but also maintains your skin’s pH level as well, thereby reducing the chances of skin infection. Hence, it’s essential to maintain your skin’s lipid barrier. And if you are wondering how you can do that, make sure to take a look at the blog below to find out about different ways to maintain your skin’s lipid barrier.
Rethink your skincare routine
Before introducing any new product or step to your skincare routine, you first need to determine if you are indulging in some skincare habits that could be destroying your lipid barrier. Some skincare habits like over-exfoliating your skin using a chemical exfoliator or using homemade skin essentials are some of the root causes of the disrupted skin barrier. You need to make sure that every skincare step you are following is working favorably for your skin, not against it. Start by eliminating all the wrong skincare habits from your routine and then move on to the next step.
Botanical oils are a savior
When it comes to finding products that can help replenish your skin’s barrier, facial oils with botanical ingredients are probably your best bet. Additionally, these botanical oils contain antioxidant properties that help combat free radical damage caused due to environmental aggressors. Jojoba, rosehip, sunflower, argan, and camellia seed oils are some of the best options to consider. Also, you should invest in a diluted formulation since these oils in their pure forms can leave your skin extremely sensitive.
Focus on maintaining your skin’s pH
Since your skin falls more on the acidic side when it comes to its pH level, this helps your body to combat external allergens. Alcohol, dyes, artificial fragrances, and harsh physical exfoliators always work against your skin, therefore, it’s best to steer clear of them and eliminate them from your routine. Products with any of these irritants can disrupt your skin’s natural pH value, making it difficult for your body to fight external allergens. Therefore, you should always pick products with a gentler formula that are free of such baddies.
Include barrier-strengthening ingredients in your routine
When it comes to strengthening your skin’s barrier from the outside, there are a couple of ingredients that do a wonderful job. Ingredients like glycerine, petrolatum, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid are some of the best options to consider when it comes to strengthening your skin’s barrier externally and making it more resilient to fight environmental stressors.
Include fatty acids in your diet
Apart from strengthening your skin’s barrier from the outside, you need to make it more resilient from the inside as well. And for that, you will need fatty acids. Primrose oil extracts and omega 3 are among the best examples of fatty acids; they help to improve your skin’s barrier health from within. Additionally, fatty acids help to reduce skin inflammation and prevent skin issues like acne and rosacea flare-ups. Enrich your diet with fatty acids to ensure healthy and younger-looking skin.
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