So you can wave goodbye to recurring skin problems once and for all

Have you ever heard of the “skin barrier”? If you have but are still confused by what it is, what it does, and
why it’s so important, here’s what you need to know: Everyone, including you, has a natural protective
layer over your skin called a skin barrier. It may be invisible to the naked eye but it’s vital to maintaining
your skin’s health. Your skin barrier acts like a wall to shield the layers underneath from environmental
stressors such as the sun’s UV rays, blue light from your computers and cellphones, and PM 2.5 pollution
and dust particles. If you’ve ever noticed your skin constantly looking irritated, dry, or dull, it might be
because your skin barrier has been compromised, allowing those harsh elements to enter your skin.
Aiming to achieve—and continuously have—healthy, glowing skin? Check out our 6 tips below on the
best ways you can take care of your skin barrier!

Exfoliate your skin, but don’t over-exfoliate

Physically exfoliating the skin is a great way to score clearer, smoother, and glowing skin. But too much of
it—like doing it every day—is bad. This is because the harshness of abrasive physical face scrubs can
cause micro-tears and strip your skin of its natural oils, which are necessary for your skin barrier to thrive
and do its job.
If you must exfoliate, go for an alcohol-free, liquid formula that contains mild doses of active ingredients
like AHA and BHA. SNAILWHITE Glow Potion AHA·BHA Toner (P395) is a great option to add to your
regimen with its hard working actives Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid sloughing off dead skin cells, while
Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin hydrate and balance skin so it’s not dry or irritated.

Stop washing your face

How many times do you wash your face in a day? If you didn’t know, two is the golden number. Washing
more than that can let water dry out your skin and destroy the natural mantle that’s protecting it since tap
water tends to lean towards the alkaline side. As skin is naturally acidic, alkaline can remove the oils your
barrier needs to function properly.

Use the right ingredients on your skin

If your skin barrier is weak, the best skincare products to use are ones that contain ingredients that help
protect and rebuild it. A good one to include in your routine is Chia Seed Extract. It’s rich in fatty acids
which are naturally found in your skin barrier, so it not only aids in strengthening and repairing the skin
barrier but also forms a thin layer over your skin to protect it against free radical damage caused by PM
2.5 dust and pollution, harmful UV rays, and blue light. This can be found in SNAILWHITE’s new
Brightening Day Cream SPF30/PA+++ (P85)!
The Chia Seed Extract works in harmony with the moisturizer’s other actives like Butterfly Bush Extract
and Snail Mucin to protect, hydrate, and strengthen skin so you can say hello to a brand new glow in just
7 days*.

Get some sleep

If you’re only getting a few hours of shuteye every day, you may have noticed your skin looking drier,
duller, and just not good. It’s called “beauty sleep” for a reason. Lack of sleep can quickly affect the way
your skin looks because sleep deprivation decreases your skin barrier’s ability to retain moisture and
protect it from irritants. So as much as possible, try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every day to give your skin
time to rest and repair itself.

Eat foods rich in fatty acids

Fatty acids like omega-3s and omega-6s are one of the building blocks of healthy skin. When you eat
foods rich in these—think salmon, sardines, chia seeds, and walnuts—they help fortify your skin barrier,
making it stronger and less likely to break down when exposed to environmental aggressors.

Have a “less is more” approach to skincare

If you have a lengthy regimen but find your skin still has the same problems, this might be due to a weak
skin barrier. Using a dozen products every day can increase chances for irritation, especially if some of
the ingredients aren’t compatible with each other. Try cutting your routine down to a few important steps
only—multi-use products such as moisturizers with SPF and serum-oil hybrids are perfect if you want to
declutter your regimen without completely giving up all the steps—and use products with soothing,
barrier-repairing properties to see if your skin’s condition improves!

*In a consumer study on 424 women, after 7 days of using SNAILWHITE Brightening Day Cream SPF30/PA+++ 91%
had visibly brighter skin, 97% had more hydrated skin, and 95% said their skin felt smoother