If you’re like most champs, you’ve heard the words “skin barrier” over and over again, but they went in one ear and out the other. Well don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We’re dishing all about your skin’s barrier and microbiome in our three-part series: Barrier Breakdown! In this first post, we’ll tackle what exactly your skin barrier is and why it’s so important.

So, what exactly is your skin barrier?

Well, in the most simple terms, it is an actual barrier for your skin. Specifically, it helps the skin retain moisture. Without it, the water would literally seep out and leave your skin super dehydrated! The skin barrier consists of the outermost layer of the epidermis. This layer, called stratum corneum is made up of cells called corneocytes that are bound together by lipids. These cells contain all of the essential things your skin needs to be healthy like keratin and natural moisturizers.

Why is your skin barrier so important?

It works to keep all of the good stuff in (like essential water, electrolytes and moisture) and the bad stuff out (pollutants, external aggressors, dirt and more.) Think of it like a brick wall or shield of armour––without it, your microbiome can become out of whack and wreak havoc on your skin (cough, cough...acne!)

Okay, but what’s my skin’s microbiome?

Believe it or not, it is the home to millions of good bacteria, fungi and viruses that make up “microbiota”. It functions to keep your skin moving and grooving properly. Similar to having a healthy gut microbiome, the skin microbiome is in charge of keeping everything safe and healthy. So, when your skin barrier is distressed your microbiome is affected––got it? Without that armour we mentioned, your microbiome is vulnerable to disruption!

Phew, we know that was a lot. So, we’re gonna pause here and dive even deeper in part two and three of our series. Next, we’ll tackle what causes skin barrier distress and how it affects our champs with acne-prone skin. Plus, how to give it a boost with our NEW Repairing Moisturizer!

Got a skin concern? We’ve got a solution. Just text us & we’ll walk you through your personalized step-by-step solution. Your skincare coach will ask for a quick selfie to ensure we find the perfect regimen for your skin concerns! Let’s Chat >