5 Holy Grail Skincare Products That Saved My Skin Barrier

There was a point where EVERYTHING burned when I put it on my face. I’d overdone it with acids and retinol, and my poor skin was like, “girl, no.”

Every product stung, my cheeks were constantly red, and my skin felt tight even after moisturizing. That’s when I knew I had wrecked my barrier and needed to give it major TLC.

Peep my sad broken skin barrier :(

Here are the products that truly saved my skin barrier and helped bring it back to life:

CeraVe Healing Ointment – I slather this on as the last step in my routine when my skin is feeling raw and vulnerable. It seals in moisture and acts like a comfy blanket for my face. I wake up feeling soothed instead of scorched, and it never clogs my pores!

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 – This thick balm soothes instantly and helps my skin feel comfortable again. It’s like a bandage in a tube—creamy, calming, and super healing.

Pro Tip: Keep a mini in your bag and use it like a rescue cream.

Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray – I use this whenever my face feels tight or hot (especially after washing). It’s gentle, cooling, and adds a little spa-like moment to my day. I even spray it on before applying moisturizer to help everything sink in better.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream – My winter skin LOVES this rich cream. It’s packed with colloidal oatmeal, which is sooo soothing and calming. It feels like a warm, cozy hug for your face after a long day.

Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief – If my skin barrier could choose its own BFF, it’d be this serum. It’s creamy, nourishing, and packed with barrier-repairing goodness like tamanu oil and ceramides. I use it in the morning and at night whenever my skin is in SOS mode.

When my barrier was healing, I paused all my actives (no exfoliants, no retinol!) and focused only on hydration, repair, and rest. I kept my routine super minimal—cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and maybe an occlusive like the CeraVe ointment. A few weeks later, my skin was glowing again. It was such a reminder that sometimes, less is truly more.

If your skin is screaming for help, these are the tried-and-true staples that helped me press reset. Your barrier deserves love too 💗