The outermost layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum, is the bodyguard of our skin, the largest organ in our body. The skin barrier protects the underlying skin from external influences and at the same time keeps water inside. When the skin’s barrier is compromised by variables such as excessive cleaning, external factors, and the natural aging process, skin becomes more prone to redness and irritation.
Skin’s look and feel, which are extremely important parameters for a person’s well-being and quality of life, are strongly intertwined with the quality of skin’s barrier function. Especially its role as a permeable barrier is of great importance in this respect. Loss of skin permeability barrier function is strongly linked to loss of moisture in the stratum corneum – i.e., to dry skin. Dry skin feels rough and looks unattractive.
Skincare products can play a positive role for the quality of the skin microbiome, skin’s barrier function, and thus its most important “cosmetic features,” its feel and look. Different approaches can be taken, depending on the type of skin for which the skincare product is intended. Sensitive skin has an inherent problem with the epidermal differentiation process and its barrier function, which leads to the initiation of inflammatory processes and, therefore, irritation.
Additional ingredients which lead to immediate hydrating effects have important added value, providing direct effects and resulting in customer satisfaction and compliance, where the consumer is motivated to continue using the product daily, to make sure that ingredients which work deeper in the skin (and, inherently, take longer to work) are able to elicit their beneficial effects.
An approach where the epidermal differentiation process is actively supported is absolutely necessary, though.
Read “Skin barrier, skin’s reason for being” on our Science • Nature • Beauty blog.
Read “First line of defense” at our Virtual Exhibition.
Discover three goal-oriented approaches to a healthy skin barrier
ProRenew Complex CLR™: accelerated skin barrier recovery
AnnonaSense CLR™: heathy homeostasis – the basis of a healthy skin barrier
MultiMoist CLR™: sustainable osmotic balance for a strengthened skin barrier
