Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brandsSave this storySave this story
When your skin’s moisture barrier takes a hit—from overdoing retinol, over-exfoliating, cleansing too often, the list goes on—the best barrier repair creams are here to save the day. These derm-approved formulas are specially formulated to calm inflammation, soothe redness, and restore a compromised barrier with nourishing, moisture-locking ingredients.
Otherwise known as the outermost layer of your skin (a.k.a. the epidermis), your barrier acts as a shield against bacteria, pollution, and UV rays. But when it’s damaged, “the skin barrier can start to crack, which can leave the skin more vulnerable to free radical damage,” Lesley Clark-Loeser, MD, a Davie, Florida-based board-certified dermatologist, tells Allure. The result? Dry, irritated, and even flaky skin. For fast-acting relief, we’ve rounded up the best barrier repair creams to add to your routine right now.
Our Top Barrier Repair Creams
- Best Overall: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream, $50
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Prequel Barrier Therapy Rich Skin Protectant Cream, $20
- Best for Mature Skin: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, $155
- Best for Dry Skin: Rhode Barrier Butter, $36
- Best for Oily Skin: SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream, $54
- Best for Eczema: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5, $19
- Best for Flaky Skin: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream, $16
- Best for Redness: Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, $26
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- How does the skin barrier become damaged?
- Which skin barrier repair ingredients should I look out for?
- How often should I use barrier repair products?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
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Dr. Jart+
Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
Amazon
Sephora
Why it's worth it: Dr. Jart+’s upgraded version of its beloved Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream contains twice the amount of the brand’s 5-Cera Complex, a proprietary blend of five types of ceramides to condition and comfort your skin barrier during times of stress. "This cream combines ceramides with hyaluronic acid, a humectant that absorbs water molecules from the environment and deep within the skin for improved skin hydration," says Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Ingredients aside, the beauty lies in its fast-absorbing texture that soothes skin without clogging pores, so it’s perfect for dry and acne-prone skin types alike.
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
Deanna Pai
Pai after applying the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
Deanna Pai
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“My combination skin gets capital-d Dry from external factors, be it freezing winter weather or stale airplane air. That’s why a travel-size tube of this lives in my toiletry kit. I put it to the ultimate test—a trip to central Missouri in the dead of winter to visit my in-laws—and found that it still kept my skin radiant and comfortable.” —Deanna Pai, contributing editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: ceramides, panthenol, shea butter
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Sensitive Skin: Prequel Barrier Therapy Rich Skin Protectant Cream
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Prequel
Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream
Prequel
Why it's worth it: Irritation, itchiness, and eczema are the bane of our existence, so when we notice the first signs of a flare-up, we reach for Prequel’s Barrier Therapy Rich Skin Protectant Cream. A thicker, more hydrating version of the Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream, this extra-nourishing formula houses more hydrating glycerin than its predecessor for a richer texture. Like the original version, it soothes super dry, red skin and acts as an emollient, drawing in moisture. To up the ante on its restorative effects, the cream also contains a calming lipid complex—otherwise known as a moisture-sealing trio of ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol. Use it anywhere on the face or body you’re experiencing discomfort—then sit back, relax, and relish in your soothed state of mind.
Doubling down on our “best for sensitive skin” superlative, we'd like to highlight the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance, which signifies the brand has conducted specific (and vigorous) clinical testing for an individual product, which is then thoroughly vetted by a committee of dermatologists, allergists, and eczema experts. What's more, the seal is licensed on an annual basis upon meeting strict criteria, and if there have been any formula changes (even minor ones!), an entirely new application with new clinical testing must be submitted.
Allure beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Prequel Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream
Sarah Kinonen
Kinonen after applying the Prequel Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream
Sarah Kinonen
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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“This is a new launch, but so far, I’ve been using this moisturizer morning and night, on both my face and body. My skin is so dry this winter—I need all the moisture! Normally, I’m not a two-in-one girlie, but I will always make an exception for Prequel. This face-and-body cream is super rich but blends nicely, leaving a dewy finish. Like all Prequel products, this one doesn’t have a scent, so it’s great for those with sensitive skin! And you’ll notice the tube is huge, which is great for those, like me, who love generous portions.” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin, 1% colloidal oatmeal, lipid complex (ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol), allantoin, adenosine
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Mature Skin: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
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SkinCeuticals
Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
SkinCeuticals
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
Sarah Han
Why it's worth it: According to Lincolnshire, Illinois-based dermatologist Amy Taub, MD, SkinCeuticals' Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 “mimics the skin’s optimal lipid ratio to restore suppleness, elasticity, and comfort in very dry or compromised skin.” It has long been an Allure favorite (winning a Best of Beauty Breakthrough Award in 2016), thanks to a 2:4:2 ratio of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. Translation: "It infuses skin-identical fatty acids into the barrier in the exact proportion that naturally exists in our barrier," Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, told Allure. Other star ingredients include glycerin (a fantastic hydrator) and sunflower seed oil (an emollient to help seal in moisture). Bonus: In addition to its wrinkle-fighting powers, it slows down glycation, the biological process that breaks down your skin's collagen over time. The result? Firmer, smoother skin for the long haul.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“Let me tell you: This cream is so nice and buttery but not so rich that it feels like I have a greasy film on my face. I have combo skin so this is a great nighttime moisturizer—it really feels as if all of my other skin-care products are properly sealed in. Over time, along with the other hydrating formulas I pack onto my face, I can say it's helped improve the firmness of my skin—which can turn dull and lifeless with just a few days of poor sleep, diet, etc.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin, ceramides, sunflower seed oil, cholesterol, fatty acids, vitamin E
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: Rhode Barrier Butter
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Rhode
Barrier Butter
Sephora
Rhode
Allure senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor applying the Rhode Barrier Butter
Jesa Marie Calaor
Why it's worth it: The balm-like texture of Rhode’s Barrier Butter leaves skin feeling impeccably soft and smooth, but its benefits go deeper than its sensorial feel. This buttery cream contains five different weights of hyaluronic acid to bind water and hydrate different surface levels of the skin. Ceramides and murumuru butter also make an appearance in this formula for max-strength moisturization while providing an extra layer of protection to your skin’s barrier. Quick tip: If you’re using an intensive active ingredient like retinol in your routine, the ultra-moisturizing Barrier Butter will help ease any active-related irritation.
Calaor before applying the Rhode Barrier Butter
Jesa Marie Calaor
Calaor after applying the Rhode Barrier Butter
Jesa Marie Calaor
Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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“Using tretinoin in the fall and winter makes my skin extra thirsty and sensitive. It’s truly the most painful time of year for my face but this rich cream is the only product making it bearable. It ensures it stays calm and coddled for hours.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, murumuru butter
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Oily Skin: SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream
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SkinFix
Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream
Amazon
Sephora
SkinFix
Why it's worth it: Formulated with a skin-soothing trio of niacinamide, shea butter, and glycerin, this cream is our top pick for anyone with a moisture barrier that’s on the mend but still leans oily, since its formula is moisturizing and promotes barrier healing without leaving a greasy film behind. Board-certified dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD, based in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, loves SkinFix’s 2025 Allure Best of Beauty-winning Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream because it "contains a combination of peptides and lipids to smooth and strengthen the skin barrier."
It’s clearly a derm-favorite, as David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, has also vouched for its “super creamy and hydrating” formula. “It’s exactly what you need on a cold, dry winter night to restore and repair your skin barrier," he says. We also love this jar’s push-top packaging, which ensures you don't have to dip your finger into the product.
Han applying the SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream
Sarah Han
Han after applying the SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from Han
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“I love both the original and gel-cream variation of this barrier-supporting cream. “The original SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream is fabulous for when my skin needs extra love and hydration but my combo skin adores a gel cream, and its sister product, the Barrier+ Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream is truly one of the best—it's soothing, gentle, absorbs like a dream, and doesn't make my sunscreen pill,” she says. “It cuts all the bells and whistles that some moisturizers offer (not always necessary!) and plumps my skin with squalane, niacinamide, saccharide isomerate to bolster my barrier and help refine pores (a constant struggle of mine).” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: niacinamide, peptides, jojoba oil, shea butter, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Eczema: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
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La Roche-Posay
Cicaplast Baume B5
Amazon
Dermstore
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: When you want the soothing, ultra-conditioning effects of a denser balm without the greasy feel that typically accompanies them, La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5 provides the relief you need in a lighterweight, cream-like texture. “This balm is rich in panthenol and madecassoside, which help to soothe, repair, and protect the skin's barrier,” says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Pooja Rambhia, MD. (The latter ingredient is a concentrate derived from Centella asiatica, also known as cica.) “It’s great for healing irritated skin while providing deep hydration and promoting skin regeneration,” Dr. Rambhia says of this formula, which also bears the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association. Though it has a classic balmy texture upon first application, La Roche-Posay’s formula immediately dries down to a matte, velvety finish.
Allure managing editor Alessandra Foresto applying the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
Alessandra Foresto
Foresto after applying the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
Alessandra Foresto
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
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“Before I started using Cicaplast regularly, I basically had a perpetual eczema breakout from the minute the heat came on in New York City to the first days of spring. While its thick consistency can be heavy for some, my skin soaks this moisturizer right in. I apply it all over my face at night and on dry patches only in the morning at the very end of my routine (usually after a hydrating serum and another lighter lotion). This balm (and no longer eating mushrooms, a trigger for my skin) has stopped my persistent eczema from being a permanent fixture in my life. Previously, I used the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Eczema Med Cream, which is only available in Europe and should be kept cool after being opened, and it was not very practical. I like that this one comes in many different sizes so I can travel with it easily but also keep a jumbo-size tube in my bathroom cabinet.” —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: panthenol, madecassoside (Centella asiatica), shea butter
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Flaky Skin: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
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Vanicream
Moisturizing Cream
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry applying the Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
Melanie Curry
Why it's worth it: One of the most dermatologist-recommended moisturizers on the market is, without a doubt, Vanicream’s ultra-gentle Moisturizing Cream. Dr. Rambhia, for one, appreciates its mild, gentle feel on sensitive skin—it has a Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, after all. To thank is a conditioning combination of sorbitol (an emollient that smooths and fills cracks in the barrier), propylene glycol (a humectant that increases hydration), and petrolatum (a.k.a. petroleum jelly, an occlusive that creates a physical seal to prevent moisture loss).
“Free from common allergens, this non-greasy, fragrance-free cream strengthens the skin's barrier by replenishing lipids and preventing moisture loss,” says Dr. Rambhia. “It’s perfect as a barrier restoration cream for those with sensitive skin, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and more.” Its formula may feel thick at first, but once you massage it onto your skin, it instantly dries down to a velvety-smooth, non-greasy texture.
Tester feedback from associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
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"I have uber sensitive skin, so I need a moisturizer that 1) won't break me out and 2) keeps my skin hydrated all day, which is why I love this Vanicream moisturizing cream. It feels amazing, and just a dab of it keeps my skin fresh all day, without any touchups. I also love how I can use it year-round—not too heavy for the summer but also not too light for the winter (when my skin gets super dry and flaky)." —Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development
More to know
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- Key ingredients: sorbitol, petroleum, propylene glycol
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Redness: Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
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Eau Thermale Avène
Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Dermstore
Why it’s worth it: If your skin gets red and easily irritated from time to time, tone it down with Eau Thermale Avène’s Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream. Supercharged with the brand’s proprietary Thermal Spring Water, it immediately soothes flared-up skin. It also houses a postbiotic called C+Restore, rich in proteins that breathe life (hi, plumpness and hydration) back into the skin barrier. An antibacterial copper zinc sulfate complex is also in the mix to aid in skin repair. For Dr. Taub, it’s a go-to for patients who have recently undergone a procedure or have chronically sensitive and eczema-prone skin. With just a few applications—morning, night, and even throughout the day—you’ll see radiance restored.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Thermal Spring Water, C+Restore, copper zinc sulfate complex
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the skin barrier become damaged?
"Our skin barrier gets damaged from extreme weather, sun exposure, medical conditions, physical damage such as over-exfoliating, and also age," explains Dr. Saedi. She adds that, over time, ingredients like alcohol and glycolic acid can be abrasive to the skin if overused, which can lead to dermatitis or inflammation of the skin.
Dr. Clark-Loeser's number-one tip: Go easy on the exfoliation. Try simplifying your skin-care routine and minimizing the amount of exfoliants and active ingredients in it in order to maintain a healthy skin barrier. Additionally, the skin barrier can become damaged by frequent hot showers, not using a moisturizer, and certain medications, so take note.
Which skin barrier repair ingredients should I look out for?
A key way to maintain a healthy skin barrier is to add a barrier repair product, which is strategically formulated to address the specific needs of the skin barrier, to your routine. Where traditional moisturizing products provide supplemental hydration to the skin, "barrier repair products help to actually repair the skin's barrier to help it better retain moisture and prevent environmental damage," explains Dr. Clark-Loeser. If you're unsure what ingredients to seek out in a barrier repair cream, San Diego-based board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm, MD, told us to look for "ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, squalane, natural moisturizing factors and ceramides" for their conditioning properties and soothing benefits.
How often should I use barrier repair products?
Our experts recommended applying the product at least once a day, ideally after cleansing, to help reinforce the skin's natural protective barrier and keep it hydrated. For those with particularly dry or damaged skin, using the product twice daily can more effectively restore and maintain the skin's health. Just remember, it's important to use the product as directed and not overuse it, as this can lead to further irritation.
Meet the experts
- Pooja Rambhia, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- Papri Sarkar, MD, a Newton, Massachusetts-based board-certified dermatologist
- Pooja Sodha, MD, a Washington, D.C.-based board-certified dermatologist
- Nazanin Saedi, MD, a Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania-based board-certified dermatologist
- Brendan Camp, MD, New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- David Kim, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- Lesley Clark-Loeser, MD, a Davie, Florida-based board-certified dermatologist
- Melanie Palm, MD, a San Diego, California-based board-certified dermatologist
- Amy Taub, MD, a Lincolnshire, Illinois-based dermatologist
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best barrier repair creams, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
