The barrier-repair skin-care genre is showing no signs of slowing down. At Allure, editors’ inboxes are bursting with info on products from silky serums to rich, occlusive moisturizers that are marketed to support the outermost layer of skin, helping seal in moisture and keep out germs.
Recently, we’ve even seen brands like Deinde and Mantle use the term “barrier-building” in reference to their newly launched formulas. And as we head into 2025, experts predict there's going to be even more barrier-repair buzz. “The health of the outer skin layer is the biggest trend we have been seeing over the past few years,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. “Not only when treating dry skin but also when addressing aging skin or sensitive skin.”
But just because barrier-repair products are everywhere you look, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need one in your lineup. “Skin barrier is important, don't get me wrong, but it's mostly important for people who have eczema,” explains Dr. Hartman. “Those are people with an impaired skin barrier. Everybody else, generally, has a skin barrier that's okay.”
Going overboard with barrier repair when you don’t actually have an impaired skin barrier could set you up for other skin concerns—and may even feed into 2026’s buzzy skin-care category. “You could almost predict the next thing,” says Dr. Hartman. “It'll probably be breakout treatments, because now everybody who doesn't have to worry about skin barrier is using all these occlusive products that are going to cause them to have acne and discoloration.”
That said, how you regularly care for your skin can impact the health of your skin barrier, too, so you shouldn’t ignore the topic. For instance, Dr. Garshick says, using too many harsh cleansers, active ingredients, and abrasive scrubs has the potential to irritate your skin and disrupt your skin barrier.
But just because barrier-repair products are everywhere you look, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need one in your lineup. “Skin barrier is important, don't get me wrong, but it's mostly important for people who have eczema,” explains Dr. Hartman. “Those are people with an impaired skin barrier. Everybody else, generally, has a skin barrier that's okay.”
Going overboard with barrier repair when you don’t actually have an impaired skin barrier could set you up for other skin concerns—and may even feed into 2026’s buzzy skin-care category. “You could almost predict the next thing,” says Dr. Hartman. “It'll probably be breakout treatments, because now everybody who doesn't have to worry about skin barrier is using all these occlusive products that are going to cause them to have acne and discoloration.”
That said, how you regularly care for your skin can impact the health of your skin barrier, too, so you shouldn’t ignore the topic. For instance, Dr. Garshick says, using too many harsh cleansers, active ingredients, and abrasive scrubs has the potential to irritate your skin and disrupt your skin barrier.
Determining whether or not your overzealous product-testing habits led to a compromised skin barrier is a task that’s probably best left to the professionals. Says Dr. Garshick, the issue typically manifests as red, dry, flaky skin or is associated with burning, stinging, or a tingling sensation. However, she adds, there are other skin conditions (like rosacea, forms of contact dermatitis, acne, and eczema) that can be mistaken for or associated with a compromised skin barrier. So if you have concerns, consider booking an appointment with a dermatologist to find out exactly what’s going on.