Beauty Front Benchers
This lip care trend is all about intense hydration—have you tried it yet?
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In the past, skincare focused on a problem-solving approach. However, in the course of treating a specific concern, a key element to healthy skin was often ignored—the skin’s barrier. Owing to the overuse of active ingredients, the skincare routine that was once meant to leave you with radiant skin simply did the opposite. Why? Because of a compromised barrier.
Whether you’re dealing with sensitivity, dryness, acne breakouts, or inflammation and redness, this barrier plays an important role in maintaining your skin’s overall health. Think of it as the first line of defense that halos the outer layer of your skin. Formally known as the stratum corneum, these soldiers lock in the good (read: moisture) and keep out the bad (read: environmental aggressors).
A healthy skin barrier protects the skin and pollutants, dirt, and bacteria from penetrating through and causing any internal cell damage. It’s the solution to treating many skin woes.
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For those with acne-prone skin, maintaining a balanced skin barrier can be a constant battle. This ceramide-infused beauty buy doesn't stop at just repairing the barrier; the niacinamide in the formulation controls sebum production while the hyaluronic acid keeps skin hydrated. It's lightweight and melts into your skin, without any feeling of heaviness.
“My skin has always been very dry, so a good, heavy-duty moisturiser is a non-negotiable in my routine. I’ve tried many promising formulas, but this multitasking d’you moisturiser beats almost all of them. It contains a bunch of different ceramides to fortify the skin barrier and prevent moisture loss. It feels instantly soothing and has also made my skin less prone to dryness and dehydration over time. The best part is that the texture feels super light to use and does not leave any greasy residue that’s sometimes common with richer moisturisers.”
This moisturiser is exactly what your skin needs to stay hydrated and protected. Infused with barrier-building ingredients, it helps replenish and lock in moisture while strengthening the skin’s natural defences. If you’re looking for a daily moisturiser that can tackle dryness and environmental stressors, this one’s for you.
This is one of those moisturisers that quietly becomes your most-used product. It’s fragrance-free, calming and packed with ceramides, peptides and niacinamide—basically a blanket for stressed, sensitive skin. It’s loved by the derms and your most skincare-obsessed friend.
This sunscreen redefines sun protection with its lightweight, non-greasy formula that blends seamlessly into the skin. Enriched with rice extract and probiotics, it hydrates, nourishes, and brightens, making it more than just a sunscreen. With no white cast, it’s ideal for all skin tones and a dream under makeup.
Pro tip: Use a two-finger length for optimal coverage and reapply every two hours for maximum protection when outdoors.
Korean sunscreens have long had the game figured out: lightweight textures, skin-loving ingredients and absolutely zero white cast. Beauty of Joseon’s cult-favourite sunscreen checks every single box—and then some. If you’ve been on Instagram anytime recently, chances are you’ve seen your favourite skinfluencer casually slathering it on mid-routine. It’s become a go-to for a reason: packed with niacinamide, it keeps sebum and moisture levels in check, so you’re never greasy, just glowy. It’s also infused with rice bran and a fermented grain complex that gives it that creamy, hydrating feel without weighing you down. Pro tip: apply at least 15 minutes before heading out the door to let it do its thing.
Beauty of Joseon’s sunscreen isn’t just about protection—it hydrates, too. Packed with rice and probiotics, it helps nourish your skin while keeping it safe from the UV rays. It’s a smooth, lightweight formula that will quickly become your everyday go-to. So restock in bulk to keep your skin covered all year round.
Sun protection is recommended from the age of six months onwards—so you really have no excuse for skipping SPF in your getting-ready routine in the AM. Clinical studies have proven that consistent usage of sunscreen can slow down signs of ageing and the easiest way to hop on the train is with a lightweight, non-greasy formula like this probiotic-enhanced cream by Beauty of Joseon.
Mature skin tends to look dull, especially when it’s dehydrated and damaged. This hydrating toner tackles all these concerns and more. Apart from hyaluronic acid, it’s comes packed with hibiscus extract, which acts like an anti-ageing agent that smoothes fine lines and wrinkles, all while tightening your pores. The toner also helps reduce pigmentation.
A healthy skin barrier will often present itself as a smooth, even-toned complexation that is void of any redness or inflammation. On the other hand, an unhealthy skin barrier shows signs of trauma—sensitivity, inflammation, redness and hyperpigmentation. Due to the lack of hydration and moisture, you can experience more breakouts and congestion. If you’ve got dry skin, you’ll even notice flakiness.
If you have signs of an unhealthy skin barrier, don’t worry, all is not lost yet. There is a fix—incorporating the right ingredients into your routine can slowly and steadily help restore and strengthen your skin’s barrier. Of course, you must remember that this isn’t an overnight cure. You have to stick to your routine to see results. Here are some of the best ingredients for a damaged skin barrier.
Think of ceramides as the cement between your cells. It holds down the fort, making it one of the most important components of your skin. The lipids help strengthen the skin’s barrier, hydrate the skin, and even prevent moisture loss from occurring. This leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and healthy.
Probiotics help balance out your skin’s pH levels by feeding healthy bacteria to the skin. This helps with free radical damage and other environmental stress, and can simultaneously treat other skin concerns like acne, eczema, and extremely dry skin.
One of the most popular skincare ingredients for hydration, hyaluronic acid helps regenerate your skin’s natural lipids. It is known for being a humectant which means it holds and retains moisture in the skin effectively and therefore helps repair and strengthen the cells in your skin’s barrier.
An age-old ingredient for hydration, glycerin helps restore your skin’s barrier by stimulating the production of natural lipids and ceramides. Like hyaluronic acid, glycerin too is a humectant and locks in moisture. It helps repair the skin’s barrier and even reduces any sort of inflammation.
Made popular by K-beauty, allantoin is known for its soothing and moisturising properties. A naturally occurring compound, allantoin not only keeps the skin hydrated but also acts as an anti-inflammatory, which works perfectly for a compromised skin barrier.
Looking for a skin saviour? Niacinamide is the multi-tasking superhero you need. It boosts the production of ceramides in the skin, in turn repairing and strengthening the barrier. Niacinamide also helps control and regulate oil production, brightens the skin, and reduces the appearance of large pores.
A derivative of squalene—an ingredient naturally present in your skin—squalane easily absorbs into the skin, nourishes it, and helps replenish a damaged barrier. The result? Skin that’s soft, smooth, supple, and extremely hydrated.
A healthy skin barrier will often present itself as a smooth, even-toned complexation that is void of any redness or inflammation. On the other hand, an unhealthy skin barrier shows signs of trauma—sensitivity, inflammation, redness and hyperpigmentation. Due to the lack of hydration and moisture, you can experience more breakouts and congestion. If you’ve got dry skin, you’ll even notice flakiness.
If you have signs of an unhealthy skin barrier, don’t worry, all is not lost yet. There is a fix—incorporating the right ingredients into your routine can slowly and steadily help restore and strengthen your skin’s barrier. Of course, you must remember that this isn’t an overnight cure. You have to stick to your routine to see results. Here are some of the best ingredients for a damaged skin barrier.
Think of ceramides as the cement between your cells. It holds down the fort, making it one of the most important components of your skin. The lipids help strengthen the skin’s barrier, hydrate the skin, and even prevent moisture loss from occurring. This leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and healthy.
Probiotics help balance out your skin’s pH levels by feeding healthy bacteria to the skin. This helps with free radical damage and other environmental stress, and can simultaneously treat other skin concerns like acne, eczema, and extremely dry skin.
One of the most popular skincare ingredients for hydration, hyaluronic acid helps regenerate your skin’s natural lipids. It is known for being a humectant which means it holds and retains moisture in the skin effectively and therefore helps repair and strengthen the cells in your skin’s barrier.
An age-old ingredient for hydration, glycerin helps restore your skin’s barrier by stimulating the production of natural lipids and ceramides. Like hyaluronic acid, glycerin too is a humectant and locks in moisture. It helps repair the skin’s barrier and even reduces any sort of inflammation.
Made popular by K-beauty, allantoin is known for its soothing and moisturising properties. A naturally occurring compound, allantoin not only keeps the skin hydrated but also acts as an anti-inflammatory, which works perfectly for a compromised skin barrier.
Looking for a skin saviour? Niacinamide is the multi-tasking superhero you need. It boosts the production of ceramides in the skin, in turn repairing and strengthening the barrier. Niacinamide also helps control and regulate oil production, brightens the skin, and reduces the appearance of large pores.
A derivative of squalene—an ingredient naturally present in your skin—squalane easily absorbs into the skin, nourishes it, and helps replenish a damaged barrier. The result? Skin that’s soft, smooth, supple, and extremely hydrated.
A healthy skin barrier will often present itself as a smooth, even-toned complexation that is void of any redness or inflammation. On the other hand, an unhealthy skin barrier shows signs of trauma—sensitivity, inflammation, redness and hyperpigmentation. Due to the lack of hydration and moisture, you can experience more breakouts and congestion. If you’ve got dry skin, you’ll even notice flakiness.
If you have signs of an unhealthy skin barrier, don’t worry, all is not lost yet. There is a fix—incorporating the right ingredients into your routine can slowly and steadily help restore and strengthen your skin’s barrier. Of course, you must remember that this isn’t an overnight cure. You have to stick to your routine to see results. Here are some of the best ingredients for a damaged skin barrier.
Think of ceramides as the cement between your cells. It holds down the fort, making it one of the most important components of your skin. The lipids help strengthen the skin’s barrier, hydrate the skin, and even prevent moisture loss from occurring. This leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and healthy.
Probiotics help balance out your skin’s pH levels by feeding healthy bacteria to the skin. This helps with free radical damage and other environmental stress, and can simultaneously treat other skin concerns like acne, eczema, and extremely dry skin.
One of the most popular skincare ingredients for hydration, hyaluronic acid helps regenerate your skin’s natural lipids. It is known for being a humectant which means it holds and retains moisture in the skin effectively and therefore helps repair and strengthen the cells in your skin’s barrier.
An age-old ingredient for hydration, glycerin helps restore your skin’s barrier by stimulating the production of natural lipids and ceramides. Like hyaluronic acid, glycerin too is a humectant and locks in moisture. It helps repair the skin’s barrier and even reduces any sort of inflammation.
Made popular by K-beauty, allantoin is known for its soothing and moisturising properties. A naturally occurring compound, allantoin not only keeps the skin hydrated but also acts as an anti-inflammatory, which works perfectly for a compromised skin barrier.
Looking for a skin saviour? Niacinamide is the multi-tasking superhero you need. It boosts the production of ceramides in the skin, in turn repairing and strengthening the barrier. Niacinamide also helps control and regulate oil production, brightens the skin, and reduces the appearance of large pores.
A derivative of squalene—an ingredient naturally present in your skin—squalane easily absorbs into the skin, nourishes it, and helps replenish a damaged barrier. The result? Skin that’s soft, smooth, supple, and extremely hydrated.
