Skin Barrier 101: How to Repair It and Glow Up with Seed Oils
Great skin doesn't happen by chance
Modern day lifestyle shifts have undermined this ecosystem, making it less diverse and leaving us more susceptible to many challenges including sensitivity, irritation and other skin problems.
To reverse this, we need to embrace the skin for the living ecosystem it is and help it reconnect with the balanced state that it once had.
This is why it's my mission to create products that enhance and protect the biorhythms of the dermis and the skin biome. I believe restoring and maintaining is the answer to healthy skin and a great first step to a healthier aging.
It's also critical to understand the core needs of the skin and the most efficient path of delivery - so starting at the very top layer of the skin -
We're going to discuss how to improve hydration by providing it with lipids.
Basically, lipids help strengthen the skin’s protective barrier which helps it retain moisture and keep out impurities. Lipids also play an important role in protecting skin from environmental stressors and free radical damage that can lead to premature aging.
SEED OILS AND BARRIER REPAIR 101
It may not look like it on the surface, but your skin is constantly hard at work; the toughest job, though, is of the uppermost layer, the skin barrier.
Much like a security guard for your skin, the barrier is there to stop potential problems passing through and to protect what lies within - and it’s the weakness of this shield that is the underlying cause of aging and sensitive skin.
A thin, weak or damaged skin barrier allows irritants in, deepens fine lines and small micro-tears, so building up this surface layer is key to reducing degradation- long term.
Here’s Some Quick Facts on Your Skin’s Makeup
The stratum corneum is the outermost part of our epidermis
It’s a vital front-line, protecting us against the perils of the environment
+ Your skin barrier weakens with age.
+ We’re born with a body composed of 75% water, and we dry up as we get older.
+ 50% of your cell membranes are made up of fats or lipids
+ This outermost layer consists of dead skin cells called corneocytes.
+ These corneocytes are embedded in a lipid mixture consisting of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.
So NET NET: A lack of oils results in dry, unbalanced, dull looking skin.
Imagine the image of a dehydrated raisin versus a plump grape
1. GO BACK TO BASICS
Keep it simple for effective, nurturing skincare. Take a long, hard look at your beauty practices –and products by pairing your routine.
Get rid of products with astringents, like alcohol and witch hazel. And avoid foaming cleansers, which leach away our Natural Moisturising Factor.
The number of clients I see that have a rise in sensitivities is growing so I created a scent free and surfactant free cleanser brimming full of omegas, skin-brightening vitamin C-esters, healing plant hydrosols, and botanicals to help gently purify the skin and stimulate cellular turnover to deliver brighter skin
2. NO HARSH MECHANICAL SCRUBS
I recommend cutting right back on physical exfoliation – so many women are using brushes and cleansing cloths too harsh for their skin-type and developing problems as a consequence.
In addition, be aware that as you age, the skin's regenerative production decreases, so over use of retinol and harsh procedures do more harm than good long term.
I figured I would support women in their multi tasking abilities with our sea pearl cleansing mask which has Exfoliating Pearls to Renew skin clarity by gently lifting and removing stagnant skin cells.
Then following up with Laminaria + Spirulina which Strengthens connective tissue while hydrating with Omega-3 Fatty Acids and amino acids to help reduce dark spots and soothe inflamed skin conditions.
+ Evoq Sea Pearl 3 in 1 Exfoliation
3. SHOP FOR THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS
As always with aging or sensitive skin issues, reading the labels of your products is a must to make sure you’re getting the building blocks you need.
All Evoq moisturizers include cold pressed oils and Vitamin C Ester, which is a biomimetic liposome to help boost collagen and ceramide production, thereby improving lipid barrier function. .
This is key because we can’t manufacture essential fatty acids ourselves, so we must obtain it through diet or topical application.
+ PRO Collagen Firming Creme
4. MIND YOUR PH
Detergents (eg. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) are my biggest no-no.
They strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving the barrier dry, exposed and susceptible to irritation.
They also have an alkalising effect on the skin, throwing off pH balance and disrupting the skin's natural processes.
“Active” acids, like salicylic acid for example, should also be avoided because they remove the top layers of skin.
+ Evoq Enliven Sea Mist Toner - Encompasses Purified Sea Water which Immediately infuses skin with essential minerals and trace elements that provide soft, glowing, and healthy skin.
5. KEEP IT COOL
Cleanse with tepid water and don’t put your face under the shower - hot water will only strip the skin, just like it does to your hair.
6. BE FREE FROM RADICALS
It’s not just about building the barrier up - you also need the ingredients that will minimize any incoming stressors to look after it in the long run.
Protecting against free radical damage can help maintain a strong skin barrier, so at Evoq, I've studied with the leading experts on how to energize certain antioxidants to 10x their effects which you can find in the Evoq Ultra Hydrating Oil.
TOP SHELF SOLUTION: ULTRA HYDRATING ANTIOXIDANT OIL
Our clinically studied complex brings advanced free radical squelching abilities with enzymatic help to prevent and repair damage to DNA and proteins (like collagen and elastin), allowing skin cells to live a longer, healthier, more beautiful life.
I’ve addressed both intrinsic and extrinsic aging factors with THIS Matchmaker oil.
By using biomimetic cold-pressed oils, your skin is infused with vital vitamins, nutrients, and fatty acids that act both as protectants from extrinsic aging but also work to slow down and prevent intrinsic aging factors by stimulating collagen production and rehydrating skin.
7. STRESS-LESS
Building up your barrier is not as simple as using the right skincare; think of it in the same way as you do your immune system - you need to feed its strength from all angles, mentally and physically.
Your skin is your biggest organ and needs to be looked after from the inside and out.
AS WITHIN - SO WITHOUT…. Stress is proven to slow down the skin healing process, including skin barrier recovery.
So, daily stress or poor stress management can leave the skin barrier in a permanently weakened state and accelerated aging.
8. SUPPLEMENT YOUR DIET
Essential fatty acids or omegas are essential as a supplement.
They’re anti-inflammatory and help calm the skin or soothe aggravating conditions from the inside out.
Odds are most people are abundant in omega 6 which can actually be pro inflammatory so you want to look for a 3 to 1 ratio of omega 3.
Omega fatty acids also help prevent water loss that can lead to irritation and discomfort. I take an oil form straight from the spoon, and always store mine in the fridge to keep it at its best. EFAs are very fragile and prone to oxidizing.
9. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
The healthier you are generally, the better your skin will be.
Tying into supplementation - eating omega-rich foods such as cold-water fish, flaxseed and walnuts will eventually find their way to the surface of the skin.
It’s about making every cell in the body as healthy as possible.
10. WEAR SUNSCREEN
90 percent of aging is from uv damage - therefore one of the easiest ways to protect your skin’s barrier is by wearing a daily SPF - but just like the rest of your skincare, it should be full of those antioxidants too so that as well as defending your skin against the sun’s damaging rays, it also adds protection from other environmental stressors.
Not only did I formulate the Evoq Day Lite UV protect SPF tinted moisturizer with antioxidants, I also included an active form of Vitamin D, which is a needed cofactor hormone for health and immunity
In conclusion :
SET HEALTHY [SKIN] BARRIERS
We now know that Free radicals accelerate the aging process and we encounter them everyday through sun exposure, air pollution, and stress.
By feeding skin essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and other skin-supportive nutrients, you prevent and repair free radical damage, so your skin stays firm, smooth, and bright.
Therefore I highly suggest internal health supplementation and the antioxidant topical ultra Hydrating oil to negate the inevitable Dehydration due to a slowly degrading lipid layer and outer aggressors that accentuate aging signs of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
Love and light - Kassandra