If you are new to my blog, welcome!  I would encourage you to read the previous blog, What is Your Skin Barrier?   It explains the importance of your skin barrier

If you remember one thing from this blog it should be this:

“The Stratum Corneum (or more commonly the skin barrier) should be the focus of your skincare routine.  Your no 1 priority in having a skincare routine, isn’t to add more fancier actives, but its to prevent your barrier from getting disrupted in the first place and maintaining its health.”

How does a skin barrier become damaged?

Sometimes its simply genetics.  For example, conditions such as atopic dermatitis maybe linked to your skin genetically not producing sufficient Natural Moisturising Factors (and therefore your skin holds water than normal skin resulting in a broken or disrupted barrier).

BUT this is the exception. 

In our work, we have found that some of the most common ways to disrupt your skin barrier are everyday habits, that compound stress on the skin

The Most Common Culprits

• Over-exfoliation using strong chemical or physical exfoliants as part of your beauty treatment, using strong at home face masks (e.g. leaving tomato pulp on your face for 20 mins)
• Over-washing:  Washing your face unnecessarily or too often
• Harsh cleansers:  Using  high pH cleansers such as bar soaps, (that would be better suited to cleaning rubber tyres then skin)
• Product overload:  Using the wrong products and/or too many skincare products (you don’t need a 12 step skincare routine, period.
• Environmental Stress: Excessive exposure to UV (e.g. sunbathing) and extreme climates
• Aggressive Treatments:  Frequent use of strong treatments (e.g.) bleaching, chemical peels

SINHA difference

Honestly, we didn’t launch with an exfoliant on purpose.  

Exfoliants are extremely popular products and can make new brands viral sensations overnight.  BUT in the customers we have worked with, we also know that one of the most common triggers of barrier damage is over-exfoliation.

In my experience, removing over-exfoliation solves a huge percentage of dry skin complaints.  

SINHA is obsessed with designing barrier first products: when you have a broken or damaged barrier, nothing else works, period. 

What are the signs of an impaired skin barrier?

The most common indicators of barrier damage are:

• Redness and inflammation,
• Dryness, specifically that “TIGHT” feeling after washing or itchy or flaky skin
• Discomfort, and irritation (becoming sensitive to products that may have worked before

Product selection:  skin type or health of your barrier?

SO, understanding the CONDITION of your skin barrier determines what type of products you choose.

Yes, I know you probably choose products on the basis of your SKIN TYPE (Normal, Oily, Combination, Dry)

Unlike your date of birth, your skin type won’t be fixed throughout your life, mainly because sebum (oil) secretion varies.  Similarly, age, seasonality, and hormones will affect your skin type

So your skin type can shift across the year—and your routine should shift with it.

A simple way to think about it…

If your barrier is struggling, the priority is not “more active ingredients.”  Its calming the skin and restoration of the barrier.

If you’re unsure whether what you’re dealing with is “dry skin” or a barrier that’s simply overwhelmed, you’re not alone—and you don’t need to guess your way through it. 

Need Help? 

Guided Radiance is our concierge support designed to help you assess your barrier, simplify your routine, and choose products that make sense for your skin right now. 

If you’d like personalised guidance, you can book a 1:1 consult along with your purchases, and we’ll build a routine with you.