In the past, we’ve talked about the skin barrier as something of a “brick and mortar” visual—and while this isn’t entirely inaccurate, it’s not the whole picture. So what makes up this moisture barrier? A combination of proteins from dead skin cells and lipids. To go back to the brick-and-mortar analogy I alluded to in the introduction, if there was a part of the skin that resembled the brick wall, it’d be this. (I told you it wasn’t an entirely inaccurate visual!) The proteins are things like collagen and keratin, and the lipids are your skin’s natural oils and waxes (sometimes collectively called the lipid layer), such as squalene and ceramides. To get technical, this moisture barrier is called the stratum corneum—and when you look at renderings of the skin, you’ll see it’s the outermost layer of the epidermis. Let’s break it down: And why is it so vital to tend to all these parts? Because a strong skin barrier literally means a better protected body. “It protects us from mechanical injury, low humidity, cold, heat, sun, wind, chemical exposure, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens,” explains board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., stating that, “a healthy barrier is critical to normal skin function.” As with most things in health: Knowing the full, robust structure of the barrier can help us better understand how to help and care for it. Additionally, we recommend looking for options that not only treat the moisture barrier but also tend to the other areas of the skin barrier. Biotic ingredients can feed and nurture your skin’s microflora, helping support the balance, calming the skin, and improving the overall health of your skin. Antioxidants—like vitamin C, E, coenzyme Q10, and fruit extracts—can support your skin’s immune system and neutralize free radicals. Finally, make sure you’re using a formula that keeps your pH relatively stable, so as not to disrupt the acid mantle. If you want extra help, collagen supplements contain amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and can help the body produce its own collagen. Or you can look for skin supplements with lipids like phytoceramides or healthy fats like omega-3s.
