If your skin is suddenly dry, red, stinging, or showing signs of distress, listen up: your skin barrier may be trying to tell you something. Barrier health is the most basic building block of skin health, and yet it’s often one of the most overlooked. If your barrier is out of balance, it’s time to hit pause on retinol, exfoliation, and certain powerful skincare actives, and focus your efforts on healing. 

Let’s break it down.

So, What Is the Skin Barrier?

Picture your skin like a brick wall. The bricks are your skin cells, and the mortar is made up of fats (lipids) and your acid mantle—your skin’s natural protective layer.

Layered on top of this wall: a bustling ecosystem of good bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. This is your skin microbiome, and it plays a key role in keeping your skin calm, hydrated, and happy.

When everything’s in balance, your skin barrier locks moisture in, keeps irritants out, and ensures skin feels smooth, resilient, and comfortable.

But when it’s damaged or weakened? Cue dryness, redness, breakouts, irritation, stinging, and a host of other skin issues.

Healthy Biome, Happy Barrier

Your microbiome is an invisible ecosystem of beneficial bacteria that lives on skin. (Don’t worry: it’s a good thing.) A healthy, thriving microbiome supports your skin barrier and protects against irritation and inflammation. But that friendly community is highly sensitive to change. Things like pollution, over-exfoliation, sun exposure, or antibacterial soaps can throw off your skin’s balance, killing off beneficial microorganisms and leaving your skin vulnerable.

How to Repair and Rebalance a Damaged Barrier

Here are five simple ways to protect and rebuild a compromised skin barrier every day.

1. Use Lukewarm Water
    Hot water = stripped skin. Go lukewarm to keep your lipids intact.
   
   
2. Avoid Harsh Cleansers
   If your cleanser leaves your skin feeling tight or painful, it’s probably too aggressive for your skin type. Look for gentle, non-stripping cleansing formulas made for sensitive skin. Even better if they feature hydrating or soothing ingredients.
   
   
3. Moisturize with Barrier-Repair Ingredients
   Look for hydrators rich in ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin to seal in moisture and strengthen your lipid layer.
   
   
4. Don’t Over-Exfoliate
   Limit acids and retinoids for a little while—use them twice a week at most, if you can handle it—and always moisturize after.
   
   
5. SPF. Every. Single. Day.
   UV rays damage your barrier, even on cloudy days. Use a mineral SPF with zinc oxide for the most skin-friendly protection.
   
   

The Ultimate Barrier-Balancing Skincare Routine

Designed for sensitive, redness-prone, and inflamed skin, ourPrebiotics collection was built on one simple idea: beautiful skin starts with a healthy barrier.Prebiotics pairs proven findings from dermatological science with skin-friendly botanicals—plus pre- and post-biotics—to replenish and protect your microbiome, restore barrier function, and bring your skin back to balance.

Step 1: Clean Biotic Calming Cleansing Gel (AM & PM)

Multi-tasking, makeup-melting, microbiome-loving.

Cleansing is where barrier repair begins. This gel cleanser dissolves dirt, pollution, makeup, and excess oil—without stripping or disrupting your skin’s balance. It’s perfect for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive. 
Shop it here.

Step 2: Cool Biotic Redness Relief Cream (AM & PM)

When red is not your color...

This non-comedogenic moisturizer delivers instant cooling relief to calm redness, soothe sensitivity, and restore hydration. Bonus: It’s tested on sensitive skin and plays nice with acne-prone complexions. 
Shop it here.

Step 3: Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask (2–3 nights/week)

Wake up cool, calm, and corrected.

This nourishing overnight mask is a 72-hour hydration hero. It calms, plumps, and replenishes while you sleep—so your skin wakes up looking refreshed and restored. Especially good after a long day of battling city air, stress, and other daily aggressors. 
Shop it here.

Shop the complete Prebiotics collectionhere.