Skin-munity: The Beauty Trend You Need To Know  

 With pollution at an all-time high, mask-wearing still a recent memory, and good health at the forefront of everyone’s minds as we continue to battle the effects of a pandemic, protecting and strengthening our immune system has become increasingly important, and now we’ve moved a step further: we want to protect our skin too. 

 Skin-munity (or skin immunity) is the talk of the town in the beauty industry. It means strengthening and protecting the skin’s barrier function, and that’s achieved with powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and good old-fashioned hydration. 

Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about shielding your skin against pesky breakouts, sun damage, dryness, eczema, redness, rosacea, and sensitivity. First, here’s what you need to know about your skin’s barrier function. 

Your Skin’s Barrier Function 

There are lots of layers to your skin, and the outermost layer (the stratum corneum) has a protective shield that’s made up of ceramides and fatty acids that work to keep bad bacteria, pollution and toxins out, and hydration and useful bacteria in. 

There’s also the pH balance of your skin to consider. Our skin is home to millions of bacteria that make up our skin microbiome, but before you get alarmed by the mention of ‘bacteria’, it works like a filter that helps to control the growth of bad bacteria and can be useful for wound healing and keeping our skin balanced. 

When your skin becomes sensitive, and you get pimples or irritation, it’s usually because the skin’s pH has been thrown out of whack and that can be caused by numerous things, from hormones to sun damage, pollution, over-washing, or washing with too-hot water, harsh ingredients, stress, and more recently, mask-wearing. So how do we keep it healthy? Follow these four steps to healthy, hydrated, happy skin. 

Add Antioxidant-Rich Ingredients 

Environmental aggressors like pollution, UV rays, and blue light radiation (from digital screens) can cause a whole host of skin problems. They can cause imbalances that are caused by too many free radicals, and that leads to oxidative stress, which shows as hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and premature aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and dull and sagging skin. Antioxidants fight oxidative stress. They act like superheroes to keep the bad molecules out so your skin can work at its best. 

“Sunscreen and vitamin C are the two major ingredients I would recommend,” explains skincare expert, and founder of Aurielle Aesthetics, Lucy Williams. 

Along with applying SPF, vitamins are your best bet for amping up antioxidants in your skincare. Look for serums rich in vitamin C and vitamin B3 (also known as niacinamide). Apply after cleansing, and before moisturizer for stellar anti-aging protection. 

Add Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients 

You know you’re experiencing skin inflammation when you’re noticing redness, sensitivity, and pain. This is often experienced with common skin care concerns like rosacea, eczema, and irritation. To keep our skin balanced, we need to add anti-inflammatory ingredients into the mix. 

From research, we know that the skin’s microbiome benefits from skincare infused with probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, just like our gut microbiome. They keep everything in harmony. Fermented skincare ingredients are becoming big news, and super beneficial when it comes to protecting our skin. Calm skin with tried-and-tested soothing ingredients like turmeric, neroli, macadamia, shea, coconut, and avocado.

Boost Hydration 

Ceramides, peptides, and hyaluronic acid occur naturally in the skin’s protective barrier and assist the skin with hydration. Without proper hydration, the skin’s rate of cell turnover is slowed down which can lead to the physical signs of aging. It needs to have optimal moisture levels to function properly.  If the barrier were a brick wall, ceramides are the cement holding the bricks together, and without enough, toxins can seep in affecting skin’s health and appearance. 

Peptides are a type of amino acid found in the skin that enhances wound healing and contributes to anti-aging by increasing the production of elastin and collagen. 

Hyaluronic acid is dry skin’s nemesis. As we get older, it decreases year on year, which is why as we age, our skin becomes dryer. When applied topically, these three power players dramatically moisturize, repair, and nourish the skin to protect its barrier function, resulting in a smoother, healthy, plumper complexion with fewer fine lines and wrinkles. 

Layer your serums and hyaluronic acid under your moisturizer, and if you want to maximize hydration, add your facial oil on top. Oil mimics the skin’s natural barrier function and works to seal in moisture. 

Healthy Skincare From The Inside Out 

What you put in your body matters too. Drinking plenty of water, consuming a balanced diet including omegas and anti-aging supplements, and maintaining stress levels can all support a healthy skin barrier from the inside out. 

Peaceful, Perky, Protected Skin This Way… 

When it comes to our health, it shows on our faces. It’s time to get to know antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, hydration, and skin-boosting supplements for a supercharged skin barrier and skin-munity.