Credit: Courtesy of brands
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14 of the best skin barrier creams to repair stressed, dehydrated and damaged skin
By Morgan Fargo &Chloe Burcham
Updated 3 months ago
All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article
5 min read
Like a comforting, soothing cocoon for the skin, these skin barrier creams moisturise as they protect.
It’s no secret that winter can be a bit of a slog. Especially now, when blustery winds, sideways rain and frosty chills are here to give our skin a bit of a battering. Throw in central heating, more time spent indoors and frequent temperature changes and you’re facing stressed, dry and damaged skin.
Skin barrier creams, so named for their ability to help repair the integrity and healthy functioning of the skin barrier, are designed to minimise the amount of water lost from the skin (technically known as transepidermal water loss) and can improve your skin’s ability to keep out environmental aggressors.
A true ‘barrier’, these creams tend to be thicker, and enriched with ceramides, lipids and fatty acids to permeate and protect the skin. You can use them as a daily moisturiser or as a before-bed treatment, just make sure to stay consistent – cumulative skin barrier gains are what we’re after this cold season.
If you’re looking to wrap your skin up in a comforting duvet of cocooning moisture, these are the products for you. Keep scrolling for some of our very favourites…
Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream
Formulated specially for the driest of skin types, this buttery lipid cream is clinically proven to deliver deep, 24-hour moisture and help revive and restore dry, tired, and dull skin. The formula drenches skin with a barrier-replenishing blend of ceramides, lipids, minerals and antioxidants – the perfect concoction for the coldest time of year.
Shop Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream at Sephora, £62
CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment for Very Dry and Chapped Skin
Cerave continuously nails it when it comes to pro-performance skincare on a pleasing budget. This new barrier ointment is no different. It’s ultra-thick and packed with ceramides and soothing ingredients, while a heavy layer of petroleum works to keep everything locked in overnight. It’s balmy in texture, so perfect for really dry or irritated patches of skin.
Shop CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment for Very Dry and Chapped Skin at Lookfantastic, £14
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Cream
Another brand that wins when it comes to skin barrier repair is Dr Jart+. This cream is brimming with skin-strengthening, moisture-imparting ingredients to soothe and rehydrate your skin over time. There’s a complex of five ceramides, hyaluronic acid and botanical extracts to fend off itch-inspiring dryness and rough texture, leaving you with soft, supple and healthy-looking skin.
Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturiser
This clever cream works in just 30 minutes to replenish lost moisture and rehydrate the skin barrier. With a powerful blend of five skin-identical ceramides and cholesterol, it helps your skin’s production of its own ceramides – allowing it to self-hydrate and replenish the skin’s barrier, prevent water loss and deliver long-lasting moisture.
Shop Paula’s Choice Resist Barrier Repair Advanced Moisturiser at Cult Beauty, £38
Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser
Packed with peptides, collagen and hyaluronic acid, this nutrient-rich moisturiser is formulated to lock in moisture and bring back your complexion’s natural bounce and resilience no matter your skin type.
Shop Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser at Boots, £42
Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
A great option to protect and soothe the skin throughout the day, this moisturising cream gives a film-like layer over the skin helping to nourish and soothe easily irritated skin that’s prone to dryness.
Shop Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream at Boots, £16
Glossier After Baume
Designed to nourish and protect the skin, Glossier’s newest product is rich and buttery – described as being “like a puffer jacket” for the skin. Whether you use it as a daily moisturiser in the winter or as a cocooning salve after actives like retinol, expect cushioned comfort and a happier skin barrier.
Scientia Ceramide Skin Rescue Moisture Barrier Balm
Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, fatty acids and lipids all work together to create a soothing, cooling barrier cream that hydrates (thanks, jojoba), plumps and smooths as it works.
Shop Scientia Ceramide Skin Rescue Moisture Barrier Balm at Cult Beauty, £28
Oskia Rest Day Barrier Repair Balm
Makers of one of the best (maybe even the best, in my humble opinion) exfoliating masks – the Renaissance Mask – Oskia also has an option for comforting and calming your skin too. Designed to treat stressed-out and dehydrated skin, the formula is a blend of colloidal oats (incredibly soothing) with micro-algae and a complex of ceramides, amino acids and vitamins.
Nursem Caring Skin Fix
If you have angry, itchy red or purple skin, this multi-use Nursem cream contains pharmaceutical grade colloidal oatmeal to soothe and repair, while hyaluronic acid, pro vitamin B5, avocado oil and shea butter regenerate and protect.
The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturiser
Rich and velvety, this plumping moisturiser helps to strengthen the skin barrier, while 24-hour hydration visibly plumps and smooths fine dehydration lines.
Shop The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturiser at Cult Beauty, £18.99
Biossance Squalane +Omega Repair Cream
Formulated with skin-soothing shea butter, hydration-seeking hyaluronic acid and comforting ceramides, this hardworking moisturiser soothes and nourishes the skin – without leaving behind a greasy or sticky-feeling residue.
Shop Biossance Squalane +Omega Repair Cream at Space NK, £65
Skin Rocks The Rich Moisturiser
Intensely moisturising and skin barrier strengthening, this lipid and ceramide-rich moisturiser works to instantly soothe sensitivity, replenish lost moisture and help your skin improve its ability to retain moisture – allowing for more comfortable, plump and bouncy-looking skin.
Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm
If the cold weather instantly aggravates your skin, this soothing balm was whipped up just for you. It combines marshmallow root, centella asiatica, colloidal oatmeal, arnica and milk thistle to provide an occlusive barrier that seals in moisture.
Shop Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm at Space NK, £27
Images: courtesy of brands
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