Your skin barrier is like a protective shield that keeps moisture in and irritants out. It's composed of natural lipids, such as ceramides and fatty acids, that help maintain a healthy balance of hydration and protection. When your skin barrier is impaired, you can easily lose moisture and open the door to harmful substances like pollution and bacteria.

What exactly harms your skin barrier? Let's look at five common skincare mistakes so you can make informed decisions that promote balanced, healthy skin.

MISTAKE 1: USING HARSH CLEANSERS AND HOT WATER

Scrubbing your skin with harsh cleansers and hot water may make you feel squeaky clean, but it also strips away the natural oils and lipids that keep your skin barrier strong, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Solution: Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser and lukewarm water to avoid a damaged skin barrier. Try a creamy cleanser to gently and effectively remove impurities while nourishing your skin and minimizing inflammation.

MISTAKE 2: Over Exfoliating

Exfoliating does an excellent job removing dead skin cells, but using this technique too frequently can strip away essential lipids that keep your skin barrier strong and healthy.

Solution: Avoid using harsh scrubs or chemical exfoliants more than once or twice a week, and give your skin a break if you're experiencing any irritation. You can can also add a gentle ecfoliant to any cleanser or masque to minimize irritation, while still getting the benefits of minimzing pores, softly exfoliate, and reduce dull or uneven complexion.

MISTAKE 3: Using Too Many Active Ingredients At Once

Using more than one serum to include multiple active ingredients like Retinol, Vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) may seem like a good idea, but too many at a time can lead to over-exfoliation and irritation. This is especially true for sensitive skin types. Plus, a damaged skin barrier may not have the opportunity to recover before you introduce another active ingredient.

Solution: Introduce one new product with active ingredients at a time and allow your skin to adjust before adding another. Remember, less is often more when it comes to skincare.

MISTAKE 4: Skipping Your Moisturizer

Moisturizer just makes oily skin even more oily, right? Actually, skipping moisturizer entirely can lead to even more oil production as your skin tries to compensate for the lack of hydration it needs. Moisturizers can replenish any lost lipids you've washed away while cleansing and add extra strength to your skin barrier, making this step essential (even for oily skin).

Solution: Choose a professional moisturizer that's tested and proven to support healthy skin.

Some of my favorite Glymed moisturizers that support barrier health are:

+Oxygen Cream

+Daily Repair Cream

+Barrier Repair Cream

+Comfort Cream (a crowd fave!)

Correctly moisturizing is vital in a healthy barrier, for all skin types. It helps to deliver essential lipids and moisture to help the skin barrier.

MISTAKE 5: Forgetting Sun Protection

Sun damage not only increases your risk of skin cancer but also compromises your skin barrier by breaking down collagen and damaging essential lipids. UVA rays can penetrate windows and clouds, so even on cloudy days or days spent indoors, daily sun protection is a must.

Solution: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 every day, rain or shine to protect a healthy barrier.

BONUS MISTAKE: USING TOO HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

We all want fast results, but starting with high concentrations of active ingredients can do more harm than good. These high-strength products can irritate and damage your skin barrier, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Solution: Always follow your skincare professional’s recommended concentration and the directions on the product label to avoid damaging your skin barrier. Gradually work up to higher percentages if necessary with the help of a professional esthetician.