Gentle skincare - How to strengthen the skin barrier and improve hydration for long-term skin health

Your skin is your body’s largest organ - and one of the most sensitive. It acts as a protective shield against environmental stressors, toxins, and pathogens. At the heart of healthy skin lies one vital element: a strong, well-functioning skin barrier and a gentle skincare that is long-term.

What is the skin barrier - and why does gentle skincare matter?

The skin barrier, also known as the stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of the skin. It’s composed of skin cells (corneocytes) held together by lipids, creating a “brick and mortar” structure. This barrier:

    Prevents moisture loss (transepidermal water loss or TEWL)

    Shields against bacteria, pollution, and irritants

    Supports the skin’s natural pH balance and microbiome

    Maintains elasticity and texture.

When compromised, the skin becomes dry, irritated, inflamed, and more prone to acne, redness, or sensitivity.

Hydration - The foundation of skin vitality

Maintaining skin hydration is essential for a strong skin barrier. Dehydrated skin lacks water - not oil - and often feels tight, looks dull, and shows fine lines more prominently.

How to Improve skin hydration?

First of all, check your skin care routines to make sure they support the skin barrier:

1. Use lightweight humectants (e.g., glycerin, sodium PCA, hyaluronic acid) that draw water into the skin.

2. Lock in moisture with emollients and occlusives, such as squalane or jojoba oil. Always use a hydrating toner, followed by a serum and a lightweight moisturizer. Finish with an occlusive barrier if needed, especially at night.

3. Avoid harsh chemicals on skin: Choose non-stripping, pH-balanced gel cleansers that cleanse without drying out the skin or disrupting its microbiome.

4. Skip harsh exfoliants and alcohol-based products. These can damage skin proteins and lipids. Regular peeling (not daily!) is important to get rid of dead skin cells and maintain good skin health.

5. Use lukewarm water instead of hot, which can strip natural oils.

6. Always apply products to damp skin to enhance absorption and reduce transepidermal water loss.

7. Patch test new products, especially if you have sensitive or reactive skin.

These tips are very useful to supoort your skin barrier. However, we all know that nutrition & lifestyle play crucial role as the real beauty starts within. Your skin always reflects your inner health. Hydration and barrier support go beyond skincare products.

Here are some key skin-loving lifestyle tips:

1. Hydrate from the inside out: Drink water throughout the day. Include herbal teas and mineral-rich broths.

2. Eat essential fatty acids: Omega-3s (from flaxseeds, walnuts, fish) and Omega-6s support the skin’s lipid barrier.

3. Balance your microbiome: Fermented foods (like yogurt, kimchi, kefir) and prebiotic fiber support gut health, which impacts skin clarity and inflammation.

4. Sleep well: Quality sleep supports skin regeneration and stress hormone balance.

5. Minimize chronic stress: High cortisol levels can break down collagen and weaken your skin barrier.

6. Get fresh air and exercise daily - in long-term, your skin will start to glow!

7. Avoid smoking and excess alcohol: Both dehydrate the skin and accelerate aging!

8. Protect your skin from excess sunlight.

Strong, hydrated, and resilient skin begins with gentle care, both on the surface and from within. Choose barrier-supportive, non-irritating products that reinforce hydration while avoiding harsh routines. Complement your skincare with nourishing lifestyle choices that sustain long-term skin health.

Remember: radiant skin isn’t just about what you apply - it’s also about how you live.

Tip: If you're recovering from skin treatments or have sensitive skin, look for cleansers and moisturizers formulated for post-procedure care or sensitive skin. These often contain calming ingredients like panthenol, licorice root extract, and chamomile - ideal for a skin barrier in need of repair.

Natural cosmetics vs. Conventional cosmetics

Todat, consumers are more conscious than ever about what they put on their skin. As natural and gentle skincare products gain popularity, many are beginning to question traditional mass-market cosmetics and so-called “miracle” products that are too good to be true.

But what’s the real difference? And what long-term effects do ingredients like SLS, preservatives, or unknown chemical blends have on your skin?

Let’s explore the key differences between natural gentle skincare, and conventional drugstore cosmetics.

🌿 Natural cosmetics: Gentle skincare that is nourishing, not harsh

Natural skincare focuses on mild, plant-based formulations that aim to respect the skin’s natural barrier. These products often use botanical extracts and rely on non-stripping cleansers like coconut-based surfactants instead of harsh foaming agents. THese products always avoid synthetic fragrances, sulfates, and parabens, which can trigger sensitivity. Natural skincare's idea is to work with your skin, not against it - especially important for those with compromised or aging skin barriers.

✅ Long-term benefits:

    Supports healthy skin microbiome

    Prevents chronic dryness and irritation

    Reduces risk of sensitization over time

    Ideal for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin

Conventional cosmetics: Convenient & less expensive but often compromising

Many drugstore and mainstream skincare brands use inexpensive ingredients to mass-produce cleansers, creams, and serums. While these products may provide immediate results and offer more budget-friendly choice, over time they can cause cumulative damage, especially for those with sensitive or maturing skin. This is mainly because these products often include so called "bad" ingredients among the good ones:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Common foaming agents that can strip skin of natural oils and damage the protective barrier.

Synthetic fragrances: A leading cause of contact dermatitis and skin allergies.

Parabens: Preservatives that may disrupt hormonal function or cause irritation.

Silicones (e.g., dimethicone): Create the illusion of smooth skin but they form a shield on your skin that eventually may clog pores more easily over time.

⚠️ Long-term effects due to long-term exposure to these substances:

    Weakened skin barrier

    Chronic dryness, flakiness or oil overproduction

    Heightened skin sensitivity

    Breakouts or congestion

    Increased dependence on products to "fix" side effects

❌ Also: The Hidden Danger

The internet is flooded with "miracle creams" and skin-lightening products from unverified sellers - often based in countries with lax cosmetic regulations. These products may contain undisclosed ingredients, including banned steroids, hydroquinone, or mercury, and still be falsely labeled as “natural” or “herbal”.

Potential consequences are serious:

    Severe allergic reactions or chemical burns

    Thinning of the skin due to undisclosed corticosteroids

    Hyperpigmentation rebound effect

    Microbiome damage and chronic inflammation

If you don’t know what’s in it—or who made it - simply don’t put it on your skin!

Today’s skin challenges - acne, sensitivity, premature aging - are often exacerbated by harsh, synthetic or unknown ingredients. By switching to gentle, naturally formulated products, you're not only improving your skin’s day-to-day comfort but also investing in its long-term resilience. Many people have reported to gain positive skin benefits when switching - but please note, that every change takes time and effort.

What you should look for:

    Transparent ingredient lists

    Minimal and multifunctional formulations

    Clinically tested natural extracts like green tea, licorice root, or aloe

    Fragrance-free or naturally scented with essential oils (used cautiously)

How can I know what cosmetic products contain?

The answer is: you can't. Unless you learn to read ingredient lists, or INCIs.

More and more raw materials containing synthetic chemicals are coming onto the market all the time. The Cosmetics Act should ensure safe raw materials and products. Unfortunately, the truth is that even if raw materials have been tested and found to be safe, their interactions and combinations are really difficult to test. Natural cosmetics use carefully selected raw materials, which often come directly from plants. Of course, natural cosmetics also use raw materials processed in factories. Also, beware of “greenwashing” - just because a product is vegan or not tested on animals does not guarantee that the product is natural cosmetics and “safe”. It may still include "bad" ingredients.

That is why one of the most important things is to learn to read ingredient lists. If you decide to start getting to know INCI lists, you can get started here, for example.

Skin care in a nutshell

We humans, especially women, cause many of our own skin problems. The most common reason is over-washing our skin. For those with dry skin, this means more dryness symptoms, such as dandruff, itching and irritation. For impure skin, this can mean, among other things, skin blockage. Dry skin cannot breathe or push out toxins from the skin.

Excessive washing also causes the skin to become more oily. Because the body produces more oil to replace what is washed away. Whether you have dry, combination or oily skin, do not wash your skin too much.

Don't forget about moisturizing either. Dry skin is called hungry skin - it needs more oils and fats and caring ingredients than oily skin. Dry skin also needs moisturizing. Fat alone is not enough to keep the skin supple and moisturized. Oil-based creams, even oil-based cleansers and toners are friends of dry skin.

Oily skin, on the other hand, is said to be thirsty, it needs more hydration than nourishing oils. Water-based emulsions and toners are to the liking of oily skin.

While conventional cosmetics may offer short-term results, they often come at the cost of your skin’s long-term health. Unregulated imports, on the other hand, can pose serious safety risks. Choosing gentle, science-backed natural skincare helps protect your skin barrier, reduce irritation, and enhance hydration - safely and effectively.

Because when you treat your skin with kindness, it shows.

 

P.S. Check our natural cosmetics products for gentle skin care:

For gentle face wash: Amonas Blue Crystal Cleansing Gel

For deep pores and impurities cleanse: Amonas Dead Sea Mud

For multi-layered hydration boost: Amonas Hyaluronic Acid Serum

For oily skin hydration: Amonas AquaSilk Gel Cream

For dry skin moisture: Amonas Lumina Balance Facial Oil

For excess shine and redness: Amonas Aloe Vera Balancing Gel

For deep nourishment: Amonas Tallow Cream Lemongrass & Lavender

For gentle daily care and hydration: Amonas Hydro Glow Day Cream

For gentle night treatment: Amonas Velvet Glow Night Cream

For multi-layered hydration boost: Amonas Hyaluronic Acid Serum