Preserving Your Precious Skin Barrier

When it comes to skincare, many of us are simply doing too much. Double cleansing, micellar water, toner, plumping serum, retinol, eye cream, AM and PM moisturizers, at-home peels and exfoliants...I hear about routines like this from clients all the time. When we stop to think about what our skin is made up of and what it needs (or doesn't need!) to thrive, we can see why excessive routines like this often lead to irritation, inflammation, and other disorders of the skin.

If we are coming at our skin twice a day with soapy cleansers, we are stripping it of its natural oils, microbes, and pH balance. This can lead to dryness, dehydration, inflammation, acne, irritation, redness, and more. Swapping your soapy cleanser for an oil cleanser, cleansing balm, or soap-free gel will provide thorough but gentle cleansing without disrupting your skin's delicate balance. My favorite options are my ELM Esthetics Nourishing Facial Oil, and Live Botanicals Gentle Cleansing Gel.

Instead of alcohol and preservative-laden toners and surfactant-based micellar water, opt for pure hydrosols after you cleanse. Hydrosols are made by steam distilling plants, which infuses water with beneficial plant compounds. The resulting product provides not only pure hydration, but also botanical benefits from whichever plant you've used. My favorite here is Hope Ranch Lavender Hydrosol, made locally in Hood River, Oregon. It provides a refreshing, gentle hydration that soothes the skin beautifully. Be sure to look for hydrosols that do not have added alcohols or preservatives, as those ingredients can be irritating and detrimental to your skin's microbiome.

Moisturizers and creams often contain a plethora of thickening agents, preservatives, and petroleum-based ingredients that can further disrupt your skin's barrier and even lead to decreased moisture and hydration over time. Facial oils and balms are my top picks, specifically those with simple, supportive formulas. Lighter oils like jojoba, rosehip, and argan oil are great for oily, acne-prone skin. Heavier oils and butters like shea, tamanu, and moringa oil provide extra-deep moisture for very dry skin. My ELM Nourishing Facial Oil works well as a mositurizer for all skin types, and is especially great for very dry skin when mixed with a dab of my ELM Healing Balm.

When in doubt, do less! Stick with a minimal routine of skin-supportive products and your skin's barrier will stay intact and calm.