The Best Barrier Creams for Skin Health

If your skin often feels dry, flaky, or red, you might be dealing with a compromised skin barrier, as explained by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Terrence Keaney. Instead of using your usual body lotion or facial moisturizer, you might want to consider a cream specifically designed to support and repair your skin barrier.

According to Dr. Stacy Chimento, another board-certified dermatologist, repairing the skin barrier involves providing it with essential lipids and increasing hydration levels. Unlike regular creams, barrier creams offer protection against water loss and allergens, healing the barrier effectively as noted by Dr. Stephen Suah.

Having struggled with eczema since childhood, I have focused on maintaining my skin barrier. To understand how to choose an effective barrier cream, I consulted with dermatologists and compiled their recommendations alongside some top picks favored by the NBC Select staff.

Key Factors for Choosing the Best Barrier Creams

When shopping for barrier creams, experts advise paying attention to the following:

• Ingredients: Choose creams that include humectants, occlusives, and emollients targeting the skin barrier. Specifically, look for ceramides, which form the foundation of a healthy skin barrier.
• Consistency: Decide on the thickness based on your skin type and the environment. Thicker creams are suitable for dry or cold conditions, while lightweight creams are preferable for oily or warmer environments.

Top Recommended Barrier Creams

Best Overall

This versatile cream is beneficial for both the face and body. It’s fast-absorbing and non-greasy, containing three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Suitable for all skin types, it helps soothe irritation and prevent dryness without clogging pores.

Best Moisturizer

Recommended by Dr. Suah, this moisturizer is enriched with ceramides, panthenol, and glycerin. Its thick consistency makes it ideal for winter months or eczema breakouts, providing deep hydration and soothing relief.

Best Splurge

This facial moisturizer adapts to your skin’s natural lipid levels. It contains ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids, which together speed up skin recovery and improve elasticity. A small amount is all you need for an effective application over the face and neck.

Most Gentle

Perfect for sensitive skin, this Tower 28 moisturizer integrates hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and allantoin. Not only does it provide day-long hydration, but it also layers well under makeup and sunscreens.

Editor’s Pick

This lightweight cream suits both day and night routines, thanks to its formula of ceramides and niacinamide. It hydrates like a rich night cream but with a thinner texture, making it ideal even under makeup.

Best for Very Dry Skin

Rich in hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and emollients, this cream seals in moisture effectively. It helps manage eczema flare-ups and can be applied beneath makeup without causing pilling.

Most Soothing

Utilizing Avène’s Thermal Spring Water, this cream offers relief for skin redness and irritation. It’s highly moisturizing and suits anyone wanting to restore their skin’s vitality in dry conditions.

Best Multipurpose Cream

This versatile product addresses dryness across the body and lips using vitamin B5, shea butter, and glycerin. Suitable even for babies, it holds a strong reputation with online reviewers for its skin-soothing properties.

Best for Dull Skin

The Skinfix Barrier Cream combines humectants, emollients, and occlusives, applied regularly to rejuvenate and hydrate skin effectively.

Best for Redness

Enriched with colloidal oatmeal and niacinamide, this rich cream supports the skin barrier while reducing redness, making it an ideal choice for managing rosacea and other irritations.

How to Properly Use Barrier Creams

Experts suggest applying barrier cream twice daily, morning and night, after cleansing when the skin is still slightly damp. This maximizes moisture retention and protects your skin throughout the day.