We’ve all accidentally overdid the acid exfoliants, forgot to reapply sunscreen while at the beach, or got a bit of wind burn. Thankfully, there’s been a huge push for barrier-repair skincare within the last few years to help heal when redness and irritation come up. These are the best products I’ve tried for mending my barrier!
Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief
I pride myself on being intuitive when it comes to my skin, knowing what to give it at any of its itchy, red, dry, or clogged pore whims. But no one’s perfect (and no one’s skin is perfect— despite what social media would like you to believe) and for the moments when I have no clue what my skin needs, there’s Great Barrier Relief. I’m on my fifth bottle of this, which is the most I’ve ever repurchased the same product. I don’t use it every day (could you imagine how many more bottles I would’ve gone through by now if I did?). I simply add this to my existing routine when something’s awry that I’m unsure how to fix. I also just love Krave Beauty as a brand with their transparency and product development strategy!
Equal RXN Mushroom B5 Toning Cocktail
I’m begging for more people to catch onto this brand! This toner is truly a cocktail of soothing and repairing ingredients, like mushroom extracts and provitamin B5, plus it’s super lightweight. If you’re a fan of the seven skins method (where you layer your toner seven times to flood the skin with hydration), this is the perfect toner to use. It’s lightweight and non-sticky even after multiple applications. My skin drinks it up and I went through a whole bottle in no time, which felt like a feat because I rarely go through toners. I’m not quite on the “toners are 100% necessary” train, but this is turning me into a believer. It’s also fragrance and alcohol-free, making it great for sensitive skin. There’s a reason the nickname is “Liquid Barrier Rescue.”
Frankly Cica 80 & HA Soothing Toner
Personally, I’d go for the EqualRXN toner slightly over this, but I know so many people who go incredibly hard for cica (also known as centella asiatica) in their skincare, so I had to include it. I will say I’m almost done with my bottle of this as well, which at 260 ml is pretty incredible, and proves I also love this toner. The biggest difference I’ve noticed with this is it leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft. If you have issues with rough texture due to dryness or irritation, you should give this a go. It’s similar to EqualRxN in that it can be layered over and over with no issues and works perfectly under the rest of your day or night products.
I had to include this Dall-E render of what happened when I asked, “Can you create an image of the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin™ Skin Barrier Moisturizing Mask in a "break in case of emergency" box?” The text it comes up with never ceases to make me laugh.
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin™ Skin Barrier Moisturizing Mask
A few years ago, my partner texted me that he was on his way home from work and asked if I needed anything. I told him I needed one of these masks. He stopped by Sephora and came home with five (you could say he loves me). This is the only sheet mask that I absolutely have to keep stocked in my beauty cabinet at all times in case of emergency. After drying sun exposure, over-exfoliation, or otherwise skin torture, throw this on and your skin will be softer, smoother, and less red in twenty minutes. My skin absolutely drinks this mask’s creamy essence up and gives my skin a fresh start when needed.
☆ Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thanks so much for your support! ☆