Barrier Cream: Benefits, Usage Tips & Our Favorite Products

It feels that every so often in the beauty space we are introduced to a new category of products we simply must purchase: lip masks, acne patches, gommage peels, and various other tonics. Now, we're all for finding products that bring you joy—no matter what category they happen to fall into. After all, skin care is a personal thing that should feel particular and important to you, and who's to say what that looks like exactly?

Now, hearing the term "barrier cream" may inspire you to go to your nearest web browser and type the phrase into your favorite beauty retailer, looking for the next big thing. But barrier creams are truly nothing new in the skin care space. They go by many monikers: ointments, salves, creams, and even more recently, night masks. These all have the same directive: Create a topical barrier to your skin.  

Barrier creams keep skin moisturized by infusing the epidermis with emollients and water while also trapping it all in with the occlusive film. "Occlusives form a protective seal over the skin to lock in hydration and the products applied under them," says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D.

See, when your skin barrier is weakened or compromised—as is often the case with those who have sensitive or dry skin—something called transepidermal water loss happens. This is when water in your skin evaporates into the air around you, leaving your epidermis thirsty. 

Your skin microbiome is the collection of bacteria, fungi, and flora that lives on your skin. It's a delicate thing that may be influenced by external influences. Those with dry, damaged skin usually have some imbalances in the skin microbiome. And to get your barrier back to optimal health, it's critical that you tend to the biome. 

"The microbiome also aids in wound healing, limits exposure to allergens, minimizes oxidative damage, and keeps the skin plump and moist," according physician Kara Fitzgerald, N.D.

Thick salves add a layer of protection from the elements, protecting you from pollution, various other particulate matter, even the elements like cold weather and windburn. "When low humidity and low temperature damage the skin barrier, this weakens the skin's ability to protect itself, leading to red, dry, scaly skin," agrees board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D.

As for pollutants, you can also incorporate antioxidants into the cream, so they can tend to free radical damage that comes with external stressors. You can look for creams with added actives—like vitamin E, niacinamide, and vitamin K—or simply find one formulated with natural plant oils that will have antioxidant properties as well, like jojoba and argan oils.