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How to repair a damaged skin barrier

Is your skin dry, tight, and irritated? Let’s talk about how to repair a damaged skin barrier.

What exactly is the skin barrier (and how does it work)?

In simplest terms, the skin barrier is responsible for how your skin looks and feels and it has two main roles; to keep the good things in, and the bad things out.

It’s a protective shield on the outermost layers of your skin, made from cells and lipids, that works really hard every day to protect your skin. It regulates water levels, keeps essential moisture in, and protects the skin from environmental aggressors, inflammation, irritation, etc. Basically, it’s super important 🙂

What does it feel like when your skin barrier is damaged?

When your skin barrier is damaged, it can feel irritated and dehydrated, red and hot, or generally inflamed. It might feel sore and tight, or dry and sensitive to the touch – or it could be a combination of these things.

A damaged skin barrier can happen for many reasons, but the most common causes are over-exfoliation of the skin (it happens to the best of us!), stress, hormonal fluctuations, lack of sleep, a reaction to a new product or a combination of products, wearing a mask all day, or using a cleanser that’s too stripping or drying.

 

How To Repair A Damaged Skin Barrier | Simone Scribes

How can you repair your damaged skin barrier?

Completely pair back your routine. And when I say pair back, we’re talking two to three products maximum. A very gentle cleanser, a repairing/hydrating serum, and a barrier-repairing moisturiser – morning and night.

Remove Vitamin C from your routine, any exfoliating acids and retinol (along with any product(s) that may have caused the damage or irritation) and focus on using products that repair, nourish, soothe and deeply hydrate the skin. Look for products that include ingredients like Ceramides, Squalane, Niacinamide, Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid – our skin can never get enough of these and they will work to quickly (and gently) repair, hydrate, and moisturise your skin.

Here are some of my favourite, non-stripping, non-drying, gentle cleansers

 

 

Gentle, repairing, hydrating serums

 

 

Barrier-repairing moisturisers and creams

 

 

Soothing recovery masks

These are particularity great when you need instant relief as they work to immediately soothe and calm the skin.

 

How long does it take to repair a damaged skin barrier?

Depending on your individual skin type and how long your skin barrier has been damaged, it can take anywhere from two to three weeks to three months. If the irritation you’re experiencing is down to a new product, over-exfoliation or wearing a mask, etc. your skin barrier should be shiny and new within two to three weeks.

If the damage is a few months in the works it might take a little longer.

For more deep-dives into skin issues and ingredients, take a look at the Skincare Guides section of my website or follow me on Instagram or Tiktok.

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A magical 24 hours at @portlympnepark with the fam A magical 24 hours at @portlympnepark with the family @bylouiseemmaclarke ✨ 

#kent #familyweekend #minibreak
AD Say hello to @primark.beauty’s brand new skin AD Say hello to @primark.beauty’s brand new skincare collection in partnership with Fairtrade ❤️ 

Six gorgeous beauty products containing Fairtrade certified ingredients, including Olive Oil and Shea Butter. 

Balm to Oil Cleanser €4
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I’m talking through my post-sun skincare routine today, using lots of hydrating, calming and, soothing products - all listed below. 

If you’d like to try any of them for yourself, or if you’d like to order any of your beauty favourites, use code SIMONE20 for 20% off. The discount code has a few exclusions and is subject to t&cs. 

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Products used: 

@seoulista_beauty Correct + Calm Sheet Mask
@patchology Restoring Eye Gels
@muradskincareuk Hydro Dynamic Quenching Essence
@trilogyproductsireland Very Gentle Calming Serum
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Here are nine books I’m going to read by the end Here are nine books I’m going to read by the end of September 🤞 
If you have any great book recommendations please share them below, and I’ll continue to share on Stories when I’ve finished a good one (I’ve just ordered a few more Ruth Ware books after finishing The Turn of The Key last week - it was excellent 👌🏼). 
I made a deal with myself to read more in the coming months as it’s something I’ve always loved, but haven’t made much time for of late. 
To try and keep track of what I’ve read and what I’d like to read I set up a @goodreads account (and I signed up for their reading challenge, too) so feel free to join me ❤️
Is your hair in need of moisture and extra hydrati Is your hair in need of moisture and extra hydration? Try this routine ☝️ 

HYDRATE-ME.WASH shampoo to deeply hydrate, nourish, and inject major moisture without weighing down the hair. 

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UN.TANGLED leave-in conditioner to treat, gently strangle and provide heat protection against styling damage. 

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This is the new approach I’m taking with my conc This is the new approach I’m taking with my concealer at the moment. I’m tired of creasing and I don’t really like using powder as I prefer a dewy under eye, so here’s what I’m doing 👇🏻 

I focus only the inner corner and side of the nose as this is where many of us have blue-toned shadows and darkness. I use a tiny amount of corrector first to balance the blue tones, and then a tiny amount of concealer on top of this. 

They key is tiny amounts, thin layers and really working it in to the skin. It brightens and smooths just enough, but so little product is used that there’s no issues with creasing. 

Try it yourself and let me know what you think? 

Products:
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Small tip: if you’re struggling with product overload when using, clean off some of the excess before applying. 

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AD Let’s do a skincare routine together using so AD Let’s do a skincare routine together using some of my top picks from @primark.beauty Skin+ Collection ❤️ 

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I’m not sure whether I love this one more, or th I’m not sure whether I love this one more, or the Nuit version 🌙 
Both gorgeous, summery fragrances from @esteelauderuk.
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