Protecting your skin’s moisture barrier is one of the most important (and often overlooked) steps in maintaining balanced, silky skin. Yet many common skincare habits, from adopting an overcomplicated skincare regimen to not washing your makeup brushes, can quietly weaken this delicate protective layer. Before you know it, dryness, irritation, breakouts, and brown spots can take over.
Since cold weather already leaves us more vulnerable to these skin concerns, winter is a season when your moisture barrier needs extra protection. Avoid these damaging habits to keep your barrier healthy, resilient, and thriving.
Don’t overcomplicate your skincare routine
Too many steps in a skincare routine can overwhelm your skin with incompatible ingredients or too many actives, which can create irritation. When your skin is constantly trying to recover from redness or sensitivity, its moisture barrier becomes compromised. A simple yet effective routine like our four-step regimen offers your skin the space it needs to stay balanced, resilient, and nourished.
Don’t take hot showers
While hot showers feel relaxing, the high temperature can strip away your skin’s natural oils and disrupt its protective lipid layer. Over time, consistently showering, bathing, or even washing your hands with hot water can significantly weaken your barrier’s ability to retain moisture. This leaves your skin dry, tight, and more prone to itchiness and flakiness.
Don’t forget sunscreen
Going without SPF exposes your skin to UV damage, which breaks down collagen and essential barrier lipids. Even on cloudy, rainy, and snowy days, UV rays can cause inflammation that weakens the skin’s defenses, which can lead to signs of premature aging over time. Consistent sunscreen use is one of the most powerful ways to keep your moisture barrier strong and healthy for skin longevity.
Don’t skip your makeup brush washes
Makeup brushes easily build up bacteria, oil, and old product residue, especially when they’re used daily. Applying makeup with dirty tools transfers all of that grime back onto your skin, clogging your pores and causing breakouts. Over time, this constant exposure can disrupt your barrier, triggering a vicious cycle that makes it harder for your skin to stay calm and clear.
READ MORE: How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes
Don’t use makeup wipes
Cleansing wipes often rely on harsh chemicals, alcohol, and aggressive rubbing to break down product. While they are, admittedly, convenient in a pinch, these formulas don’t just remove makeup — they strip away essential moisture and protective oils, too. This leaves your skin dry, irritated, and more vulnerable to friction. With continued use, makeup wipes can significantly weaken your moisture barrier, making your skin increasingly prone to sensitivity and dryness.
Don’t sleep in your makeup
Nighttime is a crucial window for deep skin repair and regeneration, but leaving your makeup on can completely derail that process. As makeup mixes with sweat and oil overnight, it forms a congestive layer that clogs pores and interferes with your skin’s natural renewal cycle. Suffocated under leftover product, your skin can’t effectively repair or strengthen its moisture barrier. Over time, this habit leads to visible aging, acne, dullness, and — in worst cases — infection.
