Two questions: what’s a skin barrier, and how do you protect and repair it? Do you really need skin barrier repair products to get good skin? To answer the first, the skin barrier is your skin and body’s first line of defence against environmental toxins, free radicals, pathogens, and it also keeps your body hydrated. Basically, it keeps the bad things out, and the good things in. As for the second question, let’s begin by talking about what can damage your skin barrier in the first place.

How Does The Skin Barrier Get Damaged?

There’s quite a few things that can damage the skin barrier, from both inside the body and out. Factors that can damage the skin barrier include:

  • Over-exfoliating or over-washing
  • Environments that are too dry or too humid
  • UV radiation
  • Exposure to pollutants
  • Steroids
  • Harsh chemicals
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Lack of sleep
  • Skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis

What Does A Damaged Skin Barrier Look Like?

  • Acne
  • Dry, itchy, scaly skin
  • Premature wrinkles and fine lines
  • Discolouration
  • Thin epidermal layer
  • Visible bacterial or viral infections
  • Sensitive or inflamed patches
  • Closed comedones

Does any of the above sound like you? If you’re experiencing one or even a few of the symptoms, then you’re likely to have a damaged skin barrier. This brings us to the next question: how do we repair it?

How To Repair A Damaged Skin Barrier

  • Simplify your skincare routine: Cut out all acids and exfoliants for at least a week, and simplify your routine to its most basic form: use a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser, and a sunscreen.
  • Drink water: Your skin needs to be well-hydrated in order to best function, and the easiest way to do that is by drinking plenty of water.
  • Reduce stress: We know, this is a toughie, but try to kick back, relax, and get some more sleep. Your skin will thank you when you have a good sleep cycle.
  • Avoid smoking: Smoking and vaping has never done you any good, and it’s only making your skin worse.
  • Use barrier-repairing products: Use products that have specific ingredients, like ceramides, panthenol, and niacinamide, to help your skin repair itself quicker.

Best Skin Barrier Repairing Products in Malaysia

If you’ve got a damaged skin barrier, then you need a product that can help soothe inflammation, heal acne, keep your skin hydrated and moisturised, and repair and protect the barrier, all at once. One product can’t possibly do it all, right? Nope. We can give you a whole list of the best skin barrier repairing products in Malaysia that will help your skin barrier get right back to its healthy state, ASAP.

1. AXIS-Y Artichoke Intensive Skin Barrier Ampoule

Suffering from uneven skin texture and dryness? The Artichoke Intensive Skin Barrier Ampoule has got you covered. The core ingredient of this ampoule is artichoke, and it’s specially formulated to repair and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier and prevent skin irritation. Plus, this ampoule has double the amount of Hawkweed extract for even more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, so get ready for the brightest and smoothest complexion of your life. 

Best for dry, normal, combination, oily skin types, apply this ampoule after cleansing and toning, pat it into the skin until it’s been fully absorbed, and you’ll be on your way to having a healed skin barrier in no time. 

Price: RM68

Where to buy: AXIS-Y Official Shopee, Watsons, and AXIS-Y Malaysia Official TikTok

2. AXIS-Y Panthenol 10 Skin Smoothing Shield Cream

We know all too well how tricky it is to find a moisturiser for sensitive skin that not only will hydrate your skin, but also won’t break you out or cause any irritation. Good news! The Panthenol 10 Skin Smoothing Shield Cream is here to help. It’s infused with soothing ingredients like 10% Panthenol and Pro Vitamin B5, so not only will this moisturiser replenish the moisture back into your skin, it also works to protect the skin against irritation and stress, and even speed up the healing process of wounds, like acne.

If you have a damaged skin barrier, then you definitely need to try the Panthenol 10 Skin Smoothing Shield Cream. It has a lovely whipped cream texture that sinks into the skin really well, and has been proven to improve the skin barrier by up to 61% within five minutes. It’s really easy to use; apply as much as you need to the skin, and just pat it in. If you really want to experience enhanced soothing effects and improve your skin barrier, apply a generous amount to targeted areas, and leave it on just like a sleeping mask.

Price: RM65

Where to buy:  AXIS-Y Official Shopee and AXIS-Y Malaysia Official TikTok

3. La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

Trust us, this is the mother of all skin barrier repairing products. The Cicaplast Baume B5 by La Roche Posay has quickly risen in Tik Tok megastardom, all thanks to its incredible formulation of barrier-repairing ingredients, like glycerin, panthenol, and madecassoside. It has a rich yet lightweight texture, making it great to be used either as a moisturiser, spot treatment, or overnight mask, and it’s even gentle enough to used on babies. Non-sticky and non-greasy, this stuff will seriously save your skin.

Why we love it:

  • Multipurpose
  • Nourishes and soothes irritated skin
  • Can be used on both the body and face

Price: RM 65.90

Where to buy: Watsons

4. Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum

If you’re experiencing symptoms of a damaged skin barrier, then you need to fortify your skin, ASAP. The Kiehl’s Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum can do just that, thanks to their smallest form of hyaluronic aci, 11kDa Hyaluronic Acid, and their proprietary Adaptogenic Herbal Complex, which strengthens the skin from its deepest layer and visibly renews the skin. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, this super serum is lightweight, and helps to correct signs of ageing as well as fine lines.

Why we love it:

  • Easily absorbs into the skin
  • Penetrates deep into the skin
  • Reduces fine lines and brightens the skin

Price: RM 270

Where to buy: Kiehl’s

5. The Raw. Strong Barrier Serum 

An underrated homegrown brand that seriously deserves more love, The Raw.’s Strong Barrier Serum  is all about foritfying your skin barrier with essential lipids and Natural Moisturising Factors (NMFs) to build a strong skin barrier function. It has all you need to repair and protect your natural skin barrier, like five types of essential ceramides, 5% niacinamide, fatty acid in the form of squalane, as well as complementary ingredients to soothe and hydrate the skin, including centella asiatica extract, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol. It’s quite literally everything you need for a strong barrier, and once you’ve tried this serum, you’re never going back.

Why we love it:

  • Has a lightweight texture and non-comedogenic
  • Free from fragrance, colourants, and cruelty-free
  • Can be used daily

Price: RM 52.90

Where to buy: The Raw.

6. Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Gel 

This product is so beloved, and for good reason! The Cicapair range by Dr.Jart+ is all repairing the skin barrier, and the Intensive Soothing Repair Gel is their best seller. It has a unique gel-cream texture that glides on effortlessly on the skin, and it even has a green tint to help with neutralising redness. It’s suitable for all skin types, especially oily and acne-prone skin, and it’s amazing at delivery hydration deep within the skin to promote skin laxity and prevent future breakouts.

Why we love it:

  • Instantly reduces redness
  • Protects the skin
  • Provides intense hydration

Price: From RM81

Where to buy: Sephora

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