Bricks and mortar

Think of skin cells as bricks and ceramides as the mortar between them. When the mortar is intact, water stays in and irritants stay out.

Signs your barrier needs help

Tightness after cleansing, sudden sensitivity or flaky patches are all signs the mortar is wearing thin. Stripping cleansers and over-exfoliating are the usual suspects.

The gentle fix

Switch to a milky cleanser, pause strong acids for a week and layer a ceramide cream morning and night. Most barriers bounce back within a fortnight.