At NEVE the foundations of our offering to you are rooted in skin vitality, and skin vitality starts with a healthy and resilient skin barrier.
But what is the skin barrier and how can we keep it healthy? Your skin barrier, or stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of your skin and it acts as a protective shield against environmental aggressors such as pollutants, UV rays, and harmful microorganisms. It also helps retain moisture, preventing dehydration and dryness. A compromised skin barrier can lead to various issues, including irritation, inflammation, accelerated aging, dehydration, and increased sensitivity. If you are experiencing any of these it might be time to consider products that focus on barrier repair within your routine.
As you can see, keeping the skin barrier comfortable and healthy is crucial to good skin health, perhaps you want to elevate your routine with exciting actives, or create a beautiful ritualistic skincare routine? Before all of this comes skin barrier health.
If you believe that your skin barrier is compromised then consider following these simple steps to focus on barrier repair and nourishment...
1. Soothing Inflammation
Often a compromised skin barrier will manifest as a form of inflammation on the skin. If inflammation is present then you will notice that the skin is red, itchy, dry, sore to the touch, or hot. Thankfully, nature has given us a vast array of plants that are wonderful healers and soothers when it comes to inflammation and wound regeneration.
Some of the main plants that we turn to again and again at NEVE to ease these signs of inflammation are calendula, chamomile, yarrow, oat and chickweed. Between them, these plants have a phenomenal ability to cool, soothe, ease itching, and regenerate skin tissue. If you would like to find out more about using these herbs in your own skincare apothecary you might like this journal post we wrote.
In the Alchemy 7 Comfort Balm, our soothing balm to repair and moisturise the skin, we use a bespoke oil maceration. In out oil maceration we infuse calendula, marshmallow root, nettle, plantain, and chickweed in a base of beautiful sesame seed oil for 30 days. This process imparts the wonderful soothing properties of these plants into the oil. Once infused, this oil has a deep emerald colour, a true sign of nature’s goodness and a beautiful addition to your barrier repair routine.
2. Replenishing ceramide levels and moisture
Once the skin is beginning to calm and soothe, the next consideration is replenishing the skin’s ceramide levels. Ceramides are lipids (fats) that play a fundamental role in maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier. Imagine ceramides as the building blocks, or the glue, that holds your skin together. They are a significant contributor to a healthy barrier, and a breakdown in ceramides will see a weakening of the skin barrier and an increased chance for irritation and infection.
The exciting thing about ceramides, is that whilst they are crucial in barrier repair, they also give healthy skin a welcome boost.
Studies have found that adding ceramides to your skincare routine can help increase skin hydration, and improve and maintain the skin barrier function. Ceramides lock in moisture, keeping the skin hydrated and plump, a key aspect of good skin health. They also reinforce the skin barrier, strengthening its integrity and therefore protecting against external aggressors. As we age, the ceramide levels in our skin naturally deplete, making them a significant ingredient in a pro-age skincare routine.
In the Alchemy 7 Comfort Balm we use an oat kernel extract that contains natural plant ceramides. This wonderful oat extract up-regulates the skin’s hyaluronic acid production and replenishes ceramide levels. As such, these actions prevent loss of skin firmness and elasticity, boost hydration, soften fine lines, and reduce stress induced redness. The addition of this extract to our already, potent herbal maceration makes Alchemy 7 a deeply replenishing and effective balm for skin barrier repair.
3. Protection
The final aspect to consider when nourishing the skin barrier back to full vitality is protection. While the barrier repairs and regenerates, it will be deeply grateful for a loving layer of protection, just as your body would from a warm coat on a cold day. The magic of a skincare balm is its ability to cover your skin in a gentle protective layer while it progresses through its journey of healing. Even the word balm conjures feelings of soothing, calming, healing actions. The Oxford English dictionary describes a balm as ‘an aromatic ointment used for soothing pain or healing wounds’.
In the past we’ve been exposed to barrier balms of a thick white consistency, the main ingredient of which was paraffin, a by-product of the petroleum industry, an ingredient that does not nourish the skin the way that plant waxes and oils do, it simple creates a heavy occlusive layer. We love that natural waxes and plant oils can work on a multifaceted level, repairing and protecting. In the Alchemy 7 Comfort Balm we use a number of ingredients to offer a protective layer that also work on multiple levels to repair the skin, such as beeswax, shea butter, jojoba oil and marshmallow root.
6 simple tips for protecting the skin barrier this winter:
1. Layer up
As the cold ravishes our skin, now is the time to layer up your skincare. Think cleanse, moisturise, boost and protect. When layering your products apply from thinnest to thickest consistency. A nourishing balm, like the Alchemy 7 should be your final step. Take a look at our short guide to layering up here.
2. Avoid too hot water
If your skin barrier is feeling dried out, or showing signs of being compromised, then hot baths are guaranteed to dry the skin further and boost irritation. Instead, tone down the heat a little and bathe for a shorter length of time. Watch out for this when washing the dishes too, it’s the quickest way to dry out hands.
3. Avoid foaming cleansers or soaps
How does your skin feel after cleansing? It should feel soft, clean and nourished. If it feels tight and dry then it’s likely that your cleanser is putting your skin barrier under pressure. Many foaming cleansers or soaps have too high a PH level for the skin which causes irritation. It means that everytime you cleanse, you are stripping the skin and then having to work to replenish it again with all of your other products.
Try a gentle oil cleanse like the Tri-Elixir. It is rich in regenerative and soothing plant extracts and oils and will give you a hot cloth cleansing experience that leaves skin soft, clean and nourished. Find out more about the magic of oil cleansing here.
4. A word on exfoliation
During the colder months, if your skin is feeling nourished and healthy then we recommend you go in for a gentle exfoliation 2-3 times per week. Try the Glow Mask for a gentle polish with a radiance boosting glow. However, if your skin barrier is under pressure and showing signs of stress, we recommend you avoid exfoliation altogether until the integrity of the barrier is restored and feels stronger.
5. Boost your night time routine
While we sleep, our body regenerates, this includes the tissues and cells that make up our skin. This is the perfect time to go all in on your favourite skincare products and let them do the hard work while you rest. If you don't have much time for your routine on a morning, the evening is the time for you to give your skin a little extra attention.
6. Don’t forget the rest of your body
Dry central heating and cool, crisp days can dry out more than just the skin on our face. Apply the Alchemy 7 Comfort Balm to hands, elbows, knees or as an after shave balm to nourish the skin. The Tri-Elixir can also provide a cocooning layer when applied as a body oil, apply directly on to damp skin for maximum impact. We love to do this on an evening before getting into our pyjamas. There’s nothing lovelier than sinking into bed with soft, nourished skin and falling asleep to the scent of geranium and bergamot.
We hope this journal post has given you a great insight into caring for your skin and building a routine that focuses on barrier repair and nourishment.
If you have any questions, come find us on Instagram where we would be happy to chat further.
