The Best Barrier Creams To Repair Stressed Skin
The Best Barrier Creams To Repair Stressed Skin
Image: @AugustinusBader
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The Best Barrier Creams To Repair Stressed Skin

Dermatologists are evangelical about the importance of maintaining a healthy skin barrier. As well as shielding against environmental aggressors, it retains moisture and keeps the skin feeling smooth and bouncy. Here we’ve rounded up six creams that will keep yours in peak condition.
By Orin Carlin /
Image: @AugustinusBader

All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.

Cicaplast Balm B5 Multi-Purpose Repairing Balm

£10.90 | La Roche-Posay

An oldie but a goodie, La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast remains one of our favourite multi-purpose beauty buys, despite having been around for nearly two decades. Slather it onto sunburn, bites, stings and rough texture for fast-acting relief, or all over your face as the final step in your skincare routine to seal in the moisture. Don’t be fooled by the name, the texture is far creamier than a traditional balm.

Available at LOOKFANTASTIC.COM

The Rich Cream

£145 | Augustinus Bader

Products that are this hyped rarely live up to the expectation, but Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream is in a league of its own. Designed to help regenerate the skin on a cellular level, it’s powered by the brand’s TFC8 complex – a blend of amino acids, vitamins and plumping peptides. Smooth it over your skin when the cold weather ramps up to create a bouncy, supple canvas. 

Available at SPACENK.COM

Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream

£86.40 | Obagi

Science-backed Obagi is one of the most reliable brands when it comes to results. Its Skin Barrier Recovery Cream is expensive, but a worthwhile investment, especially if your skin is feeling a bit fragile post-procedure. Formulated with its BarrierPlex technology – a blend of postbiotics, green algae, ceramides and niacinamide – it’s really soothing on the skin without feeling overly rich. 

Available at SKINSTATION.CO.UK


Bora Barrier Cream

£62 | Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant’s ceramide-rich Lala Retro Whipped Cream is another of our barrier-friendly favourites, but here we’re spotlighting the Bora Barrier formula because of how it targets age-related dryness. Combining ceramides, lipids and fatty acids with vitamin C, this cream locks in water content and encourages all-important collagen production to give the appearance of smoother, brighter skin. 

Available at SPACENK.COM

Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Cream

£40 | Dr. Jart+

This reparative cream by Dr.Jart+ is much lighter in consistency compared to other formulas – ideal if you’re after something nourishing, but are wary about how your spot-prone skin might react to thick, rich textures. Absorption is almost instant – pretty much unheard of for a barrier cream – and it leaves no greasy residue behind. For a mid-priced option that promises to minimise redness and ease inflammation, this is a no-brainer. 

Available at SPACENK.COM

Barrier+ Repair Treatment

£17 | Byoma

If affordability is a major consideration, get acquainted with Byoma. Beyond playful, cheery packaging, its formulas are thoughtful and effective, often outperforming those in the same category at triple the price. Devoid of alcohol and fragrance, the Barrier+ Repair Treatment caters to those with sensitive skin. Full of avocado oil, ectoin and hero-hydrator squalane, apply it as you would a leave-on mask for best results. 

Available at SPACENK.COM

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