Healthy skin is naturally thick, hydrated, and balanced—thanks to a protective mix of oil and water and a thriving microbiome of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
However, certain skincare habits and products can weaken this barrier by thinning the skin, drying it out, or disrupting its microbial balance. This can lead to irritation, sun sensitivity, and a range of skin issues, including acne, eczema, fungal acne (Malassezia Folliculitis), rashes, rosacea, and more.
If your skin barrier is compromised, review the list below to identify which habits or products may be contributing—and consider removing them from your routine.
Salicylic Acid (SA) is an Aromatic Hydroxy Acid (AMA) derived from willow tree bark. It is a hydroxy acid but differs from AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs (see below), though it is often referred to as a BHA.
Used in concentrations under 2%, it can help to unclog pores and improve skin texture, which is why it is often used by those with oily or acne-prone skin. Salicylic acid can also fight acne-causing bacteria but does not contain antioxidants.
The downside of using Salicylic Acid is that it can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, so regular use of sunscreen is important. It can also make the skin red, dry, or flaky. Salicylic Acid reduces the thickness of the dermis, so continual use may result in skin barrier damage.
If your skin is irritated or inflamed, limit or eliminate the use of Salicylic Acid.
Keep in mind that salicylic acid should not be used during pregnancy.
Unless a dermatologist instructs you otherwise, avoid combining products that can irritate the skin. If you plan to use these products, don’t use them on the same day.
At low concentrations (2% or less), AHAs can support healthy skin by promoting cell turnover, thickening the epidermis, enhancing firmness and elasticity, and reducing hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and fine lines. However, even at these levels, they increase sun sensitivity—so daily sunscreen is essential when using AHAs.
Higher concentrations that trigger peeling may cause adverse effects such as inflammation, hyperpigmentation, infections, scarring, allergic reactions, milia, texture changes, redness, burning, and itching.
AHAs also lower the skin’s pH. Over time, even low-dose products that consistently reduce pH can compromise the moisture barrier, leading to dryness, redness, and irritation.
Citric acid is commonly added to formulations to balance pH. If it appears near the bottom of the ingredient list, its concentration is likely minimal and unlikely to cause irritation.
If your skin is inflamed or reactive, consider limiting AHAs such as:
BHAs are oil-soluble exfoliants that penetrate deep into the pores, making them especially effective for oily or acne-prone skin. They help clear congestion and reduce excess sebum, improving overall skin texture.
Like AHAs, BHAs increase sun sensitivity, so daily sunscreen is essential. They may also cause dryness, redness, or flaking—especially with frequent use.
If your skin is irritated or inflamed, consider limiting BHAs such as:
Unless a dermatologist instructs otherwise, skip physical exfoliants that can irritate and thin the skin. It’s important not to scrub delicate facial skin.
Over-exfoliating can harm the skin. The corneocyte cells in the outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, are often considered “dead” because they lack a nucleus. However, this does not mean that they are not necessary!
If the skin is damaged or sensitive, over-exfoliation may worsen the situation by removing important protective layers. This can lead to a cycle of thin and problematic skin as the temptation to exfoliate more increases. The skin naturally exfoliates itself every 2-5 weeks, so it’s important to allow the stratum corneum layer to thicken.
If you really want to use an acid on your skin, consider using a PHA or Aldobionic Acid. These acids not only exfoliate, but they also help bind water to the skin, thicken the skin barrier, and provide antioxidant protection against free radical damage. They are less likely to cause sun sensitivity and are gentler on the skin than AHAs, BHAs or SA.
Corum Barrier Repair Oil Cleanser dissolves makeup, sebum, and sunscreen, so it can easily be wiped away with a soft, wet cloth without disturbing the skin’s pH. This step helps to open and unclog pores and fight free radicals and breakouts with New Zealand Totarol.
Corum Superfruit Hydrating Cleanser includes just the right amount of plant extracts containing natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids to allow for gentle daily removal of the top layer of dead skin cells. This no-rinse cleanser removes invisible pollutants and other debris that can disturb the skin’s microbiome and helps to fight free-radical damage that contributes to skin aging. Hyaluronic acid, Manuka honey, and corn-derived propanediol help keep water in the skin. Aspen bark extract helps fight breakouts.
Over time this gentle daily exfoliation helps to rejuvenate, improve firmness and elasticity, and reduce hyperpigmentation, inflammation, fine lines, and wrinkles.
For a gentle and effective skin treatment, apply Corum Barrier Repair Manuka Mud once or twice a week. This mask contains clay and xylitol, as well as Manuka honey, Dead Sea Salt, prebiotics, and plant enzymes. It smooths, purifies, detoxifies, and balances the skin, while removing dirt and oil without drying. Your skin will feel clean, refreshed, and rejuvenated. Use it after cleansing your face with Corum Oil Cleanser.
Just like whole foods are better for the body than isolated parts of foods consumed as supplements, certain plant oils can help to accomplish the goal of using acids without the negative side effects of acids.
Plant oils contain skin-building blocks including ceramides, cholesterol, triglycerides (fatty acids attached to glycerol), tocopherols, phytosterols, stanols, phospholipids, waxes, squalene, and polyphenolic compounds. When topically applied, they nourish the skin and act as a protective barrier that decreases trans-epidermal water loss.
Certain non-comedogenic plant oils also have the ability to repair the skin barrier by:
This is why you’ll find skin barrier repair oils in so many Corum Products.
