Skin Barrier: Why It Matters and How to Keep It Healthy

Dryness, tightness, redness or skin that suddenly feels more sensitive than usual? Perhaps your go-to serum has started to sting, or your favourite moisturiser no longer seems to provide the comfort your skin needs.

These could all be signs of a compromised skin barrier.

Your skin barrier plays an essential role in keeping skin healthy, hydrated and resilient. But what exactly is the skin barrier, what causes it to become weakened, and how can you give it the support it needs?

What exactly is the skin barrier?

The outermost layer of your skin, known as the stratum corneum, forms an essential part of your skin's protective barrier.

Think of it as a brick wall: your skin cells are the bricks, while the lipids between them act as the mortar holding everything together.

Its main job is simple: to keep moisture in and external irritants out. It helps prevent excessive water loss while protecting your skin from environmental stressors.

When your skin barrier is functioning as it should, your skin feels hydrated, soft and comfortable. But when it becomes compromised, dryness, sensitivity and discomfort can quickly follow.

How to tell if your skin barrier is compromised

A weakened skin barrier can leave your skin feeling dry, rough, sensitive or flaky. You might also notice tightness, redness or a stinging sensation when applying products your skin previously tolerated without any problems.

And here's something worth remembering: a compromised skin barrier isn't just a dry skin concern. Oily, combination and blemish-prone skin can experience barrier damage too. Every skin type has a protective barrier, regardless of its current condition or concerns.

Your skin barrier isn't a skin type. It's one of your skin's essential protective functions.

What causes a weakened skin barrier?

Your skin barrier is exposed to a range of everyday stressors. Cold weather, wind, dry air, central heating, temperature changes and UV exposure can all affect how well it functions.

But environmental factors aren't the only things to consider. Your skincare routine matters too. When you're looking to improve your skin, it's tempting to reach for more active ingredients. Retinoids, exfoliating acids and powerful cleansers all have their place in skincare, but using them too frequently or incorrectly can put unnecessary stress on your skin.

That doesn't mean active ingredients are bad for your skin. Quite the opposite. When used correctly, they can make a real difference to its appearance and condition.

Problems tend to arise when we introduce too many actives at once, use them too often or increase their frequency before our skin has had time to adjust.

More active ingredients don't always mean better skin. Sometimes, your skin simply needs fewer potential irritants and a little more consistency with the basics.

What does your skin barrier need to stay healthy?

When it comes to barrier care, lipids often take centre stage. And while they're essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier, they're only part of the picture.

A well-functioning skin barrier also needs proper hydration and protection against moisture loss.

1. Hydration: keeping moisture levels topped up

Humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid help attract and retain water, keeping skin hydrated. Well-hydrated skin feels smoother, softer and more supple, with less of that uncomfortable tightness associated with dehydration.

2. Lipid replenishment: nourishing and softening the skin

Plant oils, butters and squalane help soften and nourish the skin, providing the lipids it needs for comfortable, supple skin. They're particularly beneficial for dry, dehydrated or weather-stressed skin that needs a little extra nourishment and protection.

3. Moisture retention: locking in hydration

Occlusive ingredients form a protective layer on the skin's surface, helping to reduce moisture loss and keep hydration where it belongs. This becomes especially important during the colder months, when low temperatures, wind and dry indoor air can leave skin feeling increasingly dry and uncomfortable. The key to effective barrier care? A combination of hydrating, lipid-rich and protective ingredients that work together to support your skin's natural barrier.

When your skin barrier needs a reset, simplify your routine

If your skin feels irritated, unusually sensitive or starts to sting when you apply skincare, now probably isn't the time to experiment with another active ingredient.

Instead, consider giving your routine a reset. Focus on gentle cleansing, effective hydration, a rich, barrier-supporting moisturiser and daily SPF protection.

It's also worth taking a break from intensive exfoliation and limiting potentially irritating active ingredients while your skin settles. Try to avoid constantly switching products, too.

Your skin doesn't always need more products or more steps. Sometimes, the most effective approach is a simple, consistent routine that supports its natural protective functions.

Meet the New Hemptouch Barrier Restore Cream

Thoughtfully formulated for dry, sensitive and dehydrated skin, our new Barrier Restore Cream delivers deep nourishment, lasting hydration and essential care for the skin’s natural protective barrier.

At the heart of the formula is a carefully selected blend of plant lipids, hydrating actives and soothing ingredients that work together to replenish moisture, reduce water loss and restore a feeling of softness and comfort.

Rich plant oils and butters help nourish and soften the skin while locking in moisture, while hyaluronic acid and beta-glucan provide an extra boost of hydration and help relieve feelings of dryness and tightness.

One of the formula’s standout ingredients is Clarivine™, a grapevine extract rich in polyphenols and antioxidants. It helps protect against oxidative stress and environmental aggressors while promoting a fresher, more radiant and even-looking complexion.

The formula also features CBD, an ingredient at the heart of Hemptouch skincare. Together with soothing ingredients, it helps calm and comfort the skin, leaving it feeling balanced and cared for.

The result? A deeply nourishing moisturiser that helps keep moisture where it belongs, leaving skin visibly smoother, softer and more supple.

Despite its rich, lipid-packed formula, Barrier Restore Cream melts beautifully into the skin, leaving a silky, comfortable finish without a heavy, greasy feel. Perfect as the final step in your skincare routine, it also creates a smooth, supple base for make-up.