Having a skin barrier that's thriving is so important to skin health. Why? Because it's protection, plain and simple. "The skin barrier is essentially the top layer of our skin. It
To put it into context about how important it is, board-certified dermatologist and docent medical advisor Farhaad Riyaz, MD, explains that the skin is our largest organ and has multiple functions, one of which is to protect from the environment (like UV rays, bacteria, toxins, viruses, and fungi). "In order to perform this function, it must be healthy. The skin barrier is essentially the outer layer of the skin, known as the stratum corneum," he says. "It includes skin cells (corneocytes), lipids, and a natural moisturizing factor. While the lipids are mostly ceramides and fatty acids, the natural moisturizing factor (NMF) is mainly comprised of amino acid, sugars, and minerals (namely calcium and magnesium)."