The pandemic has certainly given us a continuous onslaught of challenges, and our skin health is not spared either. We are exposing our skin to more unpredictable situations than we were a decade ago – changing surroundings, constant mask-wearing, abrupt change of lifestyle as well as pandemic stress. On top of that, exposure to increased pollution levels can also take a toll on skin health.
Daily activities in hot and cold weather, pollution, stress, and low humidity can lead to skin dryness, and when your skin’s moisture barrier weakens, it becomes less capable of fighting bacteria2. On top of that, constant mask-wearing these days can also affect your skin. Masks prevent saliva and other droplets released by breathing, talking, coughing, or sneezing from spreading; which means they will retain moisture and bacteria within and will come into contact with your skin, resulting in a humid environment in which acne-causing bacteria can grow3. In fact, masks made of uncomfortable fabric can also rub against the skin, causing irritation.
Since wearing a mask is necessary to protect yourself, it’s important to take measures to protect your delicate skin too.
Keep your skin barrier protected
Just like how you have been upgrading your hygiene and health habits to combat the pandemic, your skin needs its reinforcement to fight against environmental threats too. Your first line of defence is the skin barrier, and keeping its water-lipid balance sufficient is the key to achieving healthy skin4.
Why do you need to ensure sufficient hydration for your skin? Prolonged skin dehydration leads to:
- Dry and rough skin
- Dull skin
- Freckles
- Scaling / flaking
- Itchiness / irritation
- Skin sensitivity
If you’re facing the problem where your skin barrier is compromised, fret not. Some tips to strengthen your skin barrier are as follows5:
Avoid practices that harm your skin barrier
Take a look at your products and habits, and avoid exposing your skin to harsh conditions such as:
- Harsh soaps, astringents and detergents
- Water that’s too hot
- Overly intense exfoliation and skin peels
- Rough scrubs and buffing tools
- Products that cause tightness or burning sensation
Practice barrier-friendly lifestyle choices
Keeping yourself healthy and stress-free is a good way to optimise skin health. Stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and eat nutritious foods rich in healthy oils, minerals, and antioxidants. Avoid high quantities of alcohol or caffeine, exposure to cigarette smoke, and highly processed foods.
Look for barrier-fortifying products
Healing a damaged skin barrier takes time and requires patience, hence it’s important to educate yourself on the products and ingredients that can reinforce your skin barrier. Look for products that can give a moisture boost and can prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL). You should also choose gentle products that your skin can tolerate. Otherwise, you might just end up harming your skin.
Choose a Skincare Range for Your Skin
Are there skincare products that can help to fortify your skin barrier? Definitely! Elysyle Naru Hydra is a skincare range formulated with nourishing ingredients that can help to strengthen your skin barrier to provide the ultimate protection against daily environmental threats.
How Does Elysyle Naru Hydra Protect Your Skin?
Naru Hydra contains 3 functional ingredients that tackles TEWL by building a healthy skin barrier, preventing moisture loss, and protecting the skin against external irritants.
- SI Extract – mirrors the composition of NMF (Natural Moisturising Factor) to hydrate the skin instantly. It also penetrates deep into skin cells to stimulate gene expression and regulate skin cell production, thus revitalising the skin for a youthful glow.
- Fission Yeast – proliferates like human cell division by being able to divide into smaller molecules and is rich in amino acids to help maintain hydration.
- C2A ComplexTM – is a combination of 6 ingredients with strong antiradical power. It protects the cell membranes against external irritants and prevents the accumulation of pollution particles in the skin.
The Elysyle Naru Hydra Range
Elysyle Naru Hydra consists of the Refreshing Foam Cleanser, Intensive Hydrating Mist, Advanced Hydrating Fluid and Moisture Restoring Cream. With consistent regular use, you can expect to achieve the plump and bouncy skin of your dreams.
Exclusively designed and formulated in Japan, Naru Hydra approaches long-lasting hydration for all skin types by delivering optimum and lasting hydration in 3+1 simple steps. The carefully-crafted skincare set applies a unique R3+ solution to REHYDRATE, REINFORCE, and REVITALISE your skin while DEFENDING against external pollutants and irritants for visibly plumper and bouncier skin.
For more information, please visit our website or read more on Naru Hydra through the links below:
https://www.elken.com/beauty/elysyle-naru-hydra/
Source:
1 https://www.twincraft.com/twincraft-skincare-blog/climate-extremes-hot-cold-weather
2 https://abc7chicago.com/glam-lab-jos-johanna-trupp-localish/9821696/
3 https://www.wired.com/story/mascne-causes-and-treatments/
4 https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-barrier
5 https://www.californiaskininstitute.com/do-these-5-things-to-strengthen-your-skin-barrier/