Here’s everything you need to know.

Whether you’re a skincare junkie with a bathroom cabinet bursting with products or a beginner who just enjoys a basic routine, chances are you’ve heard about the importance of looking after your skin barrier. But while many of us know that a healthy-looking skin barrier equals good skin (thanks to every skincare commercial, ever), most of us don’t have a clue what it actually is.

And that’s okay! We’re not all skin wizards around here. But what it does mean is that we’re probably doing a pretty average job at looking after it, hey? To break down what a skin barrier is and how to keep it looking healthy, Skin Virtue’s Founder Nina Gajic explains exactly what we need to know.

What is a skin barrier?

Your skin barrier is basically the outmost layer of your skin (the stratum corneum - if you want to get fancy), and your first line of defence. Picture it like a security guard for your skin. It keeps the good stuff in (moisture) and blocks out all the bad stuff - bacteria, pollutants, irritants and all the other annoying things trying to mess with your skin (rude!).

To get a little bit science-y on you, Gajic explains that your skin barrier is made up of things called corneocytes and lipids - which basically hold everything together. “These corneocytes and lipids resemble a brick and mortar structure. The corneocytes (or skin cells) make up the bricks and the lipid interface make up the mortar.” Still with us?

“When the skin barrier is damaged, the normally tight arrangement between these skin cells and lipids are lost, allowing external irritants to penetrate the skin more easily, and leads to more water leaving our skin. This is known as Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL),” said Gajic. The result? Seriously unhappy skin. “As well as inducing sensitivity and irritation, this can show up visibly in the form of redness, rashes, hives and dry dehydrated flaky skin.” Who knew our little ol’ skin barrier did so much? Learn more about Transepidermal Water Loss and how to prevent it.

What’s the best way to keep your skin barrier looking healthy?

Whether your skin is sensitive or not, prevention is better than cure (that old chestnut, we know). Building up a strong skin barrier will not only benefit the appearance of your skin in the long run (and who don’t want good skin?!), but also make your skin more resilient. “The best way to protect the skin barrier is to help strengthen the skin barrier function,” said Gajic. See! We told you.

Along with avoiding products and techniques (we’re looking at you, exfoliation) that rob your skin of those delicious lipids, Gajic suggests incorporating some specific moisture-boosting ingredients into your skincare routine. “At Skin Virtue, we include ingredients such as ceramides, niacinamide, panthenol and free fatty acids in our formulations, at optimal levels, for specific skin types,” said Gajic. For more on ingredients that support sensitive skin, check out our guide on the best ingredients for sensitive skin.