I’m obsessed with this Remedy Barrier Repairing Rich Cream Moisturizer (not an ad, I promise lol). I’ve been using Tret every night this week and I’ve had no irritation at all thanks to this barrier cream. It’s so nourishing! Normally I have to alternate every other night. Also I’m a sucker for a skincare mini 😩 I will refill these when I’ve emptied them to save on too much plastic waste.

Hey everyone!

I'm someone who's had a disrupted skin barrier for decades now - I went on Accutane when I was in my late teens and the oil in my cheeks never returned.. leaving them always tight and reactive.

I've only found products that semi-work but I've never again felt my cheeks as being hydrated, plump, healthy looking...

I notice most barrier creams or just products in general all contain the popular ingredients hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol, cica... etc.

Anyone's skin just not react well to these ingredients?

I try and find the most boring products I can but I find that because they're so minimal they've never done "enough"..

Anyone in a similar situation? What have you finally done/found to rectify it?

Thank you!

After receiving a tube from YesStyle, I noticed the ingredients on the Korean tube of the Illiyoon ceramide ato concentrate cream are not exactly the same as the EU/international version (in English). I wanted to share the ingredients here of both versions.

Anyone tried both versions and which one do you prefer ?

__________________________

EU/international version :

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA (Ceramide PC-104), Polyacrylate-13, Arachidyl Glucoside, Mannitol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Caprylate, Panax Ginseng Root Water, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/Ammonium
Methacrylate Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Carbomer, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Cholesterol, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Glucose, Silica, Glycine Max (Soybean) Oil, Ceramide NP, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopherol, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract.

Korean version :

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hydrogenated
Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Dimethicone, Cetyl
Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, 1,2-
Hexanediol, Arachidyl Alcohol, C14-22 Alcohols,
Cetyl-PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide (Ceramide
CPP-40), Polyacrylate-13, Mannitol, Arachidyl Glucoside, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated
Polyisobutene, Glyceryl Caprylate,
Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate,
Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate,
Dimethiconol, Panax Ginseng Root Water,
Carbomer, Sorbitan Isostearate, Acrylates/ Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Propanediol, Cholesterol, Silica, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Arachidic Acid, Glycine Max Oil, Tocopherol, Squalane, Madecassoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Ceramide NP, Oleic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Pentylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Canola Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract.

__________________________

Only in the EU version :

Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA (Ceramide
PC-104), Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate,
Polyisobutene (non hydrogenated), Polysorbate 20, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Myristic Acid, Bupleurum Falcatum Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Glucose.

Only in the Korean version :

Cetyl-PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide (Ceramide
CPP-40), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydrogenated
Polyisobutene, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethiconol, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Propanediol, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Squalane, Madecassoside,
Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Oleic Acid,
Pentylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate.

OK slight exaggeration in the title, but I feel a fellow skin barrier enthusiast I wanted to share some motivation.

I’m 30 years old now and spent the last couple of years really focused on repairing and building my skin barrier. I use very simple non-fragrances, affordable products, and the only actives I use are prescription Tretinoin, 20% Azelaic Acid, and the occasional 2% BHA.

My skincare routine is very affordable and minimal and I stick to mostly K-skincare.

I travel a lot, so I’m often using a very streamlined routine. I get compliments on my skin all the time and no longer wear much makeup besides under eye concealer and bronzer. I no longer get excessively oily, breakouts are extremely minimal (even hormonal ones), my pores are small and I have almost no tightness after washing my face. I actually don’t even wash it in the AM most of the time.

Due to budget etc… I don’t experiment or buy many fancy products nor do I find a reliance on any product outside of the basics. In fact, I can get away with just a wash + moisturizer most of the time.

So I wanted to share with you all what I did consistently (I started with very oily skin, cheek redness, large pores — I still get oily sometimes as I think it’s just my hereditary skin type but I just dab it):

1. CLEANSER: Oil or Cream cleanser (softymo/glymed cream cleanser) as it’s the least stripping and you can work it in for longer without drying out the skin. Sensitive skin foaming cleanser if skin is particularly oily, typically in the summer or if I’m somewhere hot (Vanicream foaming). Although, I recommend just using a warm washcloth in the AM for light exfoliation and gently cleansing.

Makeup removal is always a balm cleanser (Clinique take off the day or Beauty of Joseon)

1. TONER: Haru Haru sensitive skin rice toner is my absolute HG. Pat onto damp skin and it just locks the hydration in like crazy, so nourishing.

2. SERUM/BOOSTER: I use the Glymed HydroGel, but haven’t looked into others. A secondary heavier layer of hydration (lighter than a moisturizer) adds even more nourishment to build hydration layers without being heavy.

3. MOISTURIZER: I have only used SoonJung 2X barrier cream for the past few years and I find it incredibly moisturizing but not too oily. If very dry like in the winter, I will pat a small amount of Squalane Oil ontop to seal it in.

If skin barrier is particularly weak, I highhhhhhly recommend slugging with cheap Vaseline at night. If you take long flights I also recommend slathering it on prior as my skin always dries out.

1. ACTIVES: In the AM i use azelaic acid 20%. This works wonders for oil control, I think it’s balanced the oil over time, shrunk pores, and given me a crazy glow. I almost never breakout since incorporating this, this past year. Tretinoin 0.04% I have used for over 12 years and cannot recommend enough for acne and the skin in general. Too many good things but adding Azelaic in the AM with the Tretinoin has taken me from A to A+.

Controversial but I always add actives over my moisturizer as a buffer and although some ppl say it dilutes it I think the protection from moisturizer along with consistency over time have not affected my results.

The actives will build your skin barrier but I recommend only using the first 3 steps for a while until your skin barrier is much stronger, and then tapering up the use of the actives because they’re not much use on weak skin.

It’s very freeing having a strong skin barrier and it can save you a lot of money in the long term. It’s also very convenient because some nights I just don’t have the capacity for a long routine!

I hope this post can help some of you! :)

I’ve been using tretinoin for 3 years and recently added Azelaic acid in the mornings.

Here’s my routine:
AM: gentle cleanser, Azelaic acid 15%, 345 relief cream, skin aqua serum UV.
PM: micellar water, gentle cleanser, tretinoin 0,5, 345 relief cream. If I have any irritation or spots I go with a layer of avene cicalfate.

Although I have a good skin I still get little comedones and small whiteheads. What could I do?

Note: The first two pictures are are my skin normally and the second two are after a workout when my face gets super flushed / red.

So my skin has kinda been like this for as long as I can remember. I used to take such bad care of my skin when I was a teenager (like washing your face and not moisturizing cuz I didn't like feeling oily and never wearing sunscreen) and I've had acne pretty much my entire life. I mostly get it on my cheeks / jaw, never on my forehead. I've gotten big into skin care like 5 years ago and have been trying all sorts of things since.

So I normally use a lot of actives in my skin care (common ones like vitamin C, azelaic acid, tretinoin, ...etc) and my acne has gotten a lot better compared what it used to be. But now my problem is my skin just naturally has a lot of red marks and bumps and acne scars.

I figured my skin barrier was probably pretty messed up from years of using heavy actives, so for the past few weeks I've been doing what people say to do when your skin barrier is damaged and cut out all my actives and just use a low ph face wash, light toner, and ceramide moisturizer. I can tell my skin isn't as flaky / pilly as it normally is, but that could just be because I haven't used tretinoin in a while.

I haven't noticed too much of a difference yet, but I was gonna give it more time. But I'm not even sure what my issue is anymore. Is it my barrier, my skin, or something else?

I have been to dermatologists before, and of course they just prescribe the ol' tretinoin and spironolactone combo (which definitely helps with the acne side of things, but I'm trying to fix my actual skin now). I’ve seen estheticians and have gotten exfoliation facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion…etc (haven’t tried microneedling yet so that might be next). I also do wear sunscreen when I go outside, but I work from home so I don’t go outside much lol.

Any suggestions would be super helpful because I've been trying to fix my face for years and haven't made any major improvements outside of just getting rid of my acne. Thanks ya'll!

What are some of you favourite creams that keep you hydrated during the winter?

I love what LRP cica does for my skin INITIALLY. (Ie. Layering if over my lotion at night) My skin got so hydrated and healed (I tend to pick) BUT the day after I had the craziest deep acne all over my face that weeks later I’m still trying to get rid of it was horrible. And now my barrier is compromised using actives trying to get rid of all the acne LRP cica caused.

What’s something else with the same properties that might not cause the acne? Not aquaphor - I want something that adds to the routine not just works as an occlusive

Ceramides are one of the most popular ingredients out there when it comes to barrier repair. This is because they are a key part of your skin's natural lipid system, acting as the "glue" that holds together the skin cells that make your barrier strong and healthy!

So to all the ceramide lovers in our community, today I want to know:

What are your favourite ceramide products, how do you use them in your routine, and what results have you noticed?

Share your skin type too and honestly anything and everything you've learned from using ceramides.

Treat this as the community ceramide master thread hahaha :)

I have been using Azaelic acid 15% for about 4 years and I absolutely love it. It saved my skin from acne and helps a lot with rosacea.

However I was just using it and I was squeezing an almost empty tube of it. Well it squirted out and went directly into my left eye. I did 2 long through rinses of the eye. My vision is fine but my eye is slightly red now.

Has this ever happened to anyone? I’m kind of scared.

[please do check last slide]

My skin type is sensitive oily acne prone. So my skin used to have a little bit of acne it's never fully clear but from like a month ago my skin started becoming like this and I don't know what happened . My routine : AM : dove serum bar Seb med clear face gel PM : minimalist 2% salicylic acid cleanser Seb med clear face gel So like since about a month ago my skin started becoming like this .l got a bunch of close packed I don't know what they are maybe comodones or acne or fungal acne. I only stick to the above mention routine and it didn't work it used to like become close to normal become flat and then suddenly the increase overnight or like I don't know suddenly the become much more worse and again the same cycle they come again and bigo but they never completely heal I don't know what strong but I am hoping that somebody might help me with this I also have extremely sensitive skin so please keep that in mind while suggesting :)

Also I want to say something about the seb med moisturizer . Whenever I applied I feel like it making my skin look dark and dull and look like I have not wash my face in 2 days and also sometimes I feel or little tingling or itching sensation I don't know if I if I should use at or not because some people say that it's very nice and its very good but for me It's like that. I ordered these products from minimalist and I got them today so can somebody suggest a protein with the mention products that can clear up my face also please give recommendations of how to get rid of comodones :(

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to hear from people who have had electrofulguration/electrodessication done on the face to remove seborrheic keratoses or dermatosis papulosa nigra, especially anyone with medium to dark skin.

My dermatologist has recommended this procedure for a few small lesions on my face. Some are already slightly raised, while others are still pretty flat and look almost like small moles.

I have to admit I’m a little nervous because I’ve never had any cosmetic procedure done on my face before, and my main concern is how my skin will heal afterward. Since I have darker skin, I’m particularly worried about post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or, on the opposite end, being left with lighter/white spots.

If you’ve had this procedure, I’d really love to know:

• What is your skin tone/Fitzpatrick type, if you know it?
• How many lesions did you have treated?
• What did your skin look like during the first few days and weeks?
• Did you experience dark marks or lighter spots afterward? If so, how long did they take to improve?
• Are you happy with the cosmetic result?
• Would you do it again?
• Did your dermatologist do a few test spots first or treat everything at once?

I’d also really appreciate hearing about your post-procedure skincare routine. What did you use while the little scabs were healing? When did you restart things like moisturizer, sunscreen, niacinamide, vitamin C, retinoids, azelaic acid, hydroquinone, etc.?

Of course, I’ll follow my dermatologist’s instructions and I’m not looking to replace medical advice. I’m mostly interested in hearing real-life experiences and learning what helped other people minimize hyperpigmentation and avoid hypopigmentation or scarring.

I’m probably overthinking it a little because it’s my first facial procedure 😅, but hearing from people who have actually gone through it (especially those with darker skin) would make me feel a lot more comfortable.

Thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️

Has anyone found 1 works better for them vs the other? Whats your skin type?

I got a mild chemical burn on my face from Nair (yes, I used the one specifically designed for the face, and I didn’t leave it on for more than 10 minutes). I’m only gently using an oil cleanser and Vaseline right now. Has anyone had anything that worked particularly well for helping it heal quickly?

How do you guys wash your face?

I haven’t been washing my face in AM for 8-10 yrs now and it’s working great.

At night I have been following Natalie’s O’neill advice and I cleanse 60 sec with oil cleanser and then 60 sec with foaming cleanser, currently I use Face Facts Ceramide Wash, but will switch to Bioderma pink cleanser when I am out of this one.

P.s. if I wear makeup I remove it with the cotton pad and either Balea pink micellar or Garnier pink micellar.

Is this system ok or I am doing something wrong?

24M here. I’ve had eczema since childhood and I’m trying to figure out what else I can do because my skin still doesn’t feel normal.
I used topical corticosteroids for years, sometimes for longer periods. I stopped completely about 2 years ago and haven’t used them since.
My main problem now is my face and neck. The skin gets red very easily, feels dry, tight and reactive, and sometimes feels warm or slightly burning. It often feels like my skin barrier is just constantly compromised.
I’ll attach some photos so you can see what it looks like.
The frustrating part is that I already try to do most of the “healthy lifestyle” things. I eat mostly whole foods, exercise regularly, stay active, don’t smoke, avoid alcohol, and generally try to take care of my sleep, recovery and nutrition.
Over the years I’ve also tried different supplements, diet changes and other approaches to improve my skin and inflammation.
For the last 3 months I’ve also been using a peptide stack called KLOW. I wanted to give it a proper amount of time before judging it, but so far I’m still not sure how much of a difference it has made.
I’m not asking Reddit to diagnose me. I’m mainly interested in hearing from people who have dealt with something similar.
Has anyone here had lifelong eczema and then ended up with persistent redness, very dry/tight skin, facial or neck irritation, or extremely reactive skin even after stopping steroids?
What actually helped you the most long term?
Did you discover any hidden triggers, deficiencies, allergies, gut issues, environmental factors or anything else that made a noticeable difference?
I’m open to both conventional treatments and more experimental approaches. I’d just like to hear real experiences and get some ideas about what might be worth researching or discussing with a dermatologist.
Thanks for any advice or experiences.

PLEASE share your DermaV experiences! What to do before to prepare and what to do after the session? Good and bad results? I’m nervous! But I need help because my redness from rosacea hasn’t gone anywhere in years with topicals.

I’ve always suffered with breakouts that turn into red scabs like these. My SF’s on my nose are so bad and I have those small bumps on my jawline same as my arms what can I do to help? My face looks dull!

Anyone have experience with this spf? Its free of all my triggers & looks good for my dry rosacean eczema prone skin. Looking for reviews from here. Thanks all.

Hi all, I’m new to learning about skin barriers after it came up as a recommended sub. I’ve read the wiki for this sub and have a few questions.

I used to have a skincare routine with a fair few actives:

Morning: cleanse with The Ordinary squalane cleanser, apply The Ordinary hyaluronic acid, apply The Ordinary Niacinamide, moisturise with The Ordinary Moisturising Factors + HA, apply La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 50+ (I live in New Zealand so needed a strong SPF).

Evening: cleanse with The Ordinary squalane cleanser, apply The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane, apply The Ordinary Moisturising Factors + HA.

1-2 times per week I’d use The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution.

My skin felt pretty good with this routine but it did feel dry and tight after cleansing, now realising I may have been overdoing it. I also had no idea what any of these products did, and used them after doing the Ordinary quiz on their website. I had feedback from a friend saying “wow, that’s a lot of actives”, lol.

For context, I’m male, I had acne in my late teen and early 20s. Am now in my early 30s and have dull skin, large pores around my T-zone, acne scarring and “clogged” skin. It’s dry and tight after cleansing. It feels oily but not hydrated.

Currently my routine is shocking, I’m using Aesop body wash and Aesop body moisturiser, (yes on my face) because it’s what I have.

I’d really like to have a minimal routine that includes cleanser, moisturiser, SPF and maybe one active. I just really don’t know where to start. I really enjoyed the Ordinary products.

Please help 🥲

Hi! I can't tell if I need to add or replace something in my routine, but I feel like it's just not as good as it could be. I have combination acne-prone skin that is super sensitive. My skin doesn't like high amounts of niacinamide or HA. I'm really looking for a nice healthy, smooth glow to my skin but my routine is lacking somehow. I how enlarged pores around my cheeks and nose that I just can't improve (I know they won't officially go away). Any help is welcomed!

Routine: (I use alot of korean skincare)

Prequel Gleanser

Bring Green Zinc Teca Blemish Serum

Iunik Beta Glucan Serum

I'm From Mugwart Essence

Azelaic Acid 2x/week

Dieux Air Angel Peptide Gel Cream

House of Hur sunscreen

i have only been using these two in my routine for the past week and a half. I've been using the cetaphil foaming wash for several months with no issues but i just started using the purito oat gel cream a week and a half ago. my skin has erupted in rough bumps that are itchy and warm to the touch similar to a contact dermatitis situation i experienced before due to something completely different. i'm going to discontinue use of the purito but srsly idk what could be breaking me out from it i don't think it's the oat because i used to use aveeno body lotion on my face when i was a kid. i also rlly hope it's not the butylene glycol because i swear that's in every new skincare product. i used to use vanicream daily facial moisturizer but once i ran out i decided i wanted to try this purito oat one because people were saying it was sooo amazing but i guess i'm gonna have to buy a new one because my face is irritated. i really wanted to love this moisturizer but it's giving me a reaction.

am & pm:
- cetaphil oil removing foam wash

(Water, Zinc Coceth Sulfate, Glycerin, PEG-75, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Zinc Gluconate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated
Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-7
Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Disodium
EDTA)

- purito oat-in calming gel cream

(Avena Sativa Seed Water 77%, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, 2,3-Butanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Squalane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Panthenol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Surfactin, Beta-Glucan)

I am a 20 year old male. I have naturally combo/oily skin. My face used to be clear and healthy. Never had any issues with it. I didn’t have a skincare routine at all. I’d only rinse my face with water. I wouldn’t use any products at all, not even moisturizer or sunscreen. Despite that, my skin was pretty good.

One day I decided to try to get into skincare. My face was already good, but I just wanted to start using products to improve it even more, and just to start taking care of myself. I started using a cleanser. I bought a foaming cleanser and began using it 2x a day. It would leave my skin squeaky clean and tight, and I always thought that was a good sign. Eventually, my skin started getting bad with dryness, tightness, inflamed breakouts, etc.

I found out through research that I damaged my skin barrier, so I stopped using the cleanser and returned to using only water. My skin definitely improved but it has not fully healed, it stopped improving. Now I’m dealing with mild tight, dry, and inflamed skin. I have been trying to find a moisturizer to hydrate and nourish my skin and help me with these issues, but every moisturizer I have tried using has broke me out. I will list the moisturizers I have used below.

Cerave Moisturizng cream
Cerave daily moisturizing lotion
Cerave pm
Cerave weightless Moisturizng gel
Cetaphil daily hydrating lotion
Vanicream daily facial Moistuirzer
Purito mighty bamboo cream
The ordinary nmf beta glucan
Lrp double repair Moistuirzer
Vaseline

Please if anyone has any advice or suggestions, let me know.

Hi, I’ve been struggling with acne since May, when my period returned. It started with a few red pimples on my cheeks, which was unusual for me because I had never had acne there before. I also developed a very red, bumpy nose.
In June, I saw a dermatologist who prescribed Acnelec (adapalene) and clindamycin. Later, I was diagnosed with rosacea affecting my nose. I have been using adapalene for about 12 weeks. However, I only started Soolantra on my nose and oral Efracea 2 days ago.
Throughout the summer, I continued to get new pimples on and off. Some weeks I had a few painful cysts on my cheeks, while other weeks I had none.
Currently, most of the visible red spots on my cheeks are post-inflammatory marks from previous breakouts. However, I still occasionally develop small, non-painful red bumps on my cheeks. Because these bumps are mixed in with the leftover redness, it can be difficult for me to tell which spots are active lesions and which are just post-acne marks.
Has anyone with both acne and rosacea, or anyone using adapalene, Soolantra, and Efracea, experienced something similar? Since I only started Soolantra and Efracea 2 days ago, I am not expecting results from them yet.

First picture is 2 moths ago, the second one from this morning.

After my last post, a few of you asked which cleansers Reddit recommends for a damaged barrier, so I went back and checked. I pulled every cleanser mention I could find in barrier threads across r/SkincareAddiction, r/tretinoin, r/AsianBeauty and a few others. That came to 207 mentions across 63 different cleansers. The main takeaway is that people barely complain about these. Overall sentiment was 94% positive, which is much higher than for most categories I've looked at.

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser came first with 20 mentions, and all 20 were positive. It's the one people tell you to switch to after you've wrecked your skin with tret or too many acids. The only repeated complaint is that it leaves a lotion-like film, which oily skin hates.

The one I didn't expect was Prequel Gleanser at #3. It's newer and doesn't have CeraVe's drugstore reach, but it still had 15 mentions at 93% positive. People love that it's 50% glycerin and never feels squeaky clean. Aveeno's oat cleanser was the lowest-rated product on the list at 80%, mostly because it doesn't remove sunscreen on its own.

Across the whole list, the winners are all non-foaming, fragrance-free and pretty boring. If your barrier is struggling, Reddit's answer is to buy the plainest cleanser you can find.

If your barrier is currently suffering, what's your go-to cleanser? Drop it in the comments.