K-Beauty Barrier Creams

Moisturiser not doing everything you need it to? Skin suffering from over-exfoliation or just in need of serious nourishment, hydration and protection?

Say hello to K-Beauty barrier creams.

What Are Barrier Creams?

Barrier creams are moisturisers that contain restorative ingredients that not only provide hydration, but also help to protect and strengthen your skin barrier (hence ‘barrier’).

They are designed to keep the good stuff in (delicious hydration) and the bad stuff out (pollution and other nasties). This is particularly useful if you’re suffering from a condition that weakens your skin barrier, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis and others.

When Should I Use One?

Barrier creams are great to reach for when your skin’s barrier is damaged. This can occur for a number of reasons; sometimes it’s due to a skin condition. Other times, it is from using the incorrect cleansers, incompatible skincare products or over-exofliating your skin.

These are the best times to reach for barrier creams.

Signs your skin barrier needs attention include:

- Redness
- Skin that is easily irritated
- Itchiness
- Flakiness or peeling
- Roughness
- Dryness (your skin isn’t producing enough oil)
- Dehydration (not enough water)
- Tightness (dehydration from not enough water)
- Increased or sudden sensitivity
- Stinging or burning when products are applied
- Skin looks looser/thinner (crepey); more pronounced fine lines
- Increase in breakouts

Should I Use A Barrier Cream Over My Usual Moisturiser?

It’s important to understand the purpose of your skincare products. While moisturisers are made to enhance skin hydration and may also have a protective barrier, barrier creams protect first and provide skin hydration second.

The balance between these complementary goals of hydration and protection will always differ between products – some will be more protecting, some will be more hydrating.However, there’s nothing to say that if you use either one, you can’t use the other. If using both, apply a thin layer of barrier cream on top of your moisturiser as the final step of your routine for all those great protective benefits!

4. Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream
5. APLB Derma Daily Repair Cream

Our Pick: The Barrier Cream That Does It All!

If you’re looking to get best of both barrier creams and moisturisers, look no further than Jelly Ko’s Bubble Tea Steam Cream.

Bubble Tea Steam Cream looks and smells so good you’ll be tempted to have a taste, but it’s actually packed with protective and hydrating ingredients like Niacinamide, Vitamin E, Adenonsine, Beta Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol and more!

While it is great for moisturising dry skin, it’s also gentle enough for acne prone skin. Developed alongside South Korea’s best cosmetic chemists, this smooth, creamy moisturiser will make your skin feel plump and soft yet provides adequate protection against everyday pollutants.

What are the best K-Beauty barrier creams you’ve found? Let us know in the comments!

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