13 Soothing Face Creams To Help Repair Your Skin Barrier

AD info | This post isn’t sponsored but I’ve been fortunate enough to have been gifted some of the products mentioned below. Gifted products will be marked with an *. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.

If your skin is anything like mine, it doesn’t take a lot to damage your moisture barrier. Used a cleanser that was slightly too harsh? Check. Tried out a new toner that your skin seemingly doesn’t get on with? Check. Attempted to up your tretinoin usage? Check, check, check.

When your skin barrier is damaged, the best thing to do is simplify your skincare routine. A gentle cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen should work. But which products are actually effective at soothing red, irritated skin?

I really wanted to do a ‘barrier repair’ series where I break down the products that seem to have worked on my compromised skin… and moisturisers are first up!

My skin is quite dry so many of these creams I actually stack (or layer on top of other moisturisers). Where I can, I’ve tried to mention the skin type that the products would suit, but it’s a little tricky to describe how they would work for skin types other than my own. If you’ve used any of these creams and would like to share your experience, please do leave a comment 😊

Anyway, let’s jump into it! Without further ado, here are 13 soothing face creams that I think are great for repairing a damaged skin barrier.

P.S. You might want to grab a cuppa and get comfy as this post is a long one… or use the table of contents below to skip to the product you’re interested in.

1. Isntree Mugwort Calming Cream*

Is it bad that the main reason I was so excited to write this post was because I couldn’t wait to talk about this cream? Pureseoul sent me this to try out when it was still called the ‘Spot Saver Mugwort Cream’ and I liked it so much I bought the rebranded version!

If your skin is extremely clog prone and you’re hesitant about slathering a rich, occlusive product over the top of it, this is such a great option. It’s jam packed with nourishing ingredients that help to reduce irritation and inflammation, such as liquorice root extract, panthenol, and allantoin.

Mugwort, the star ingredient, also has antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-fungal properties. And beta glucan, the last ingredient on the list, has been shown to heal wounds and increase skin hydration.

All in all, it’s understandable why this is so beneficial for the skin. It provides intense hydration, doesn’t contain comedogenic ingredients and is super cooling when applied.

I love the lightweight gel texture since it sinks into the easily and doesn’t leave a tacky finish. You’ll be pleased to know that this doesn’t contain any fragrance, alcohol or essential oils either!

2. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+

La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast line is a firm favourite among skincare specialists and newbies alike. This range is designed to combat redness and quickly calm the skin, and nothing does this job better than their Cicaplast balm.

A perfect all-rounder, this balm can be used to treat anything from insect bites to nappy rashes, so you know it’s got to be good at soothing facial irritation.

Ingredients like panthenol, madecassoside and centella asiatica are famous for reducing inflammation, while shea butter also helps provide some much needed moisture for dry, cracked skin. The jury’s still out on whether shea butter has the potential to clog pores, so make sure to patch test this before applying it all over your face!

This balm has a thick, creamy consistency which is sort of hard to describe. It’s kind of Savlon-like… but much less sticky.

The brand describes it as a ‘barrier cream’ which forms a protective layer over the skin. It doesn’t absorb as well as some of the other soothing creams on this list (I guess the point is that it sits on top of your skin!), but it still doesn’t feel heavy or greasy by any means.

3. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Cream

Dr. Jart’s Ceramidin collection is the perfect solution to dry, uncomfortable skin. And the true star of the show is their Skin Barrier Moisturising Cream.

This has a pretty unique colour and texture. It comes out of the tube as a buttery, beige paste but, once it’s rubbed in, it’s almost invisible on the skin. The smell isn’t quite so subtle though…

Since this cream contains essential oils like Bergamot and Rose Geranium, it does have a sort of herbal/medicinal scent to it. Aside from these potentially-irritating fragrance elements, the ingredients list is pretty impressive (and long!!).

We’ve got five different ceramides (or as Dr. Jart calls it, their ‘proprietary Ceramidin Complex’), as well as classic skin-soothing ingredients like panthenol, shea butter, oat kernel extract and beta-glucan.

It may be pricey but a little goes a long way with this cream so it’s a worthy investment.

4. Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream

If your skin is sensitive to fragrance, the Purito Centella Unscented Recovery Cream is a must-try. This is the essential-oil free version of Purito’s Centella Green level Recovery Cream which is also super popular, but does contain ingredients like bergamot and lavender.

With its abundance of barrier-strengthening ingredients, the Unscented Recovery Cream offers immediate relief from tightness, flakiness and itching. Centella Asiatica appears at the top of the list with a concentration of 50%, closely followed by macadamia seed oil and squalane which are amazing at preventing moisture loss.

There’s also niacinamide and adenosine in here: two ingredients which are often hailed for their skin-restoring properties. Oh, and a bunch of other plant extracts (mushroom, perilla, shea) that help the skin retain moisture!

This one has a rich, creamy texture. It isn’t greasy or heavy but it’s also not the lightest ‘recovery cream’ I’ve tried. I like it best as an overnight treatment – it makes your skin look so refreshed in the morning!

5. Dr Althea Resveratrol 345NA Intensive Repair Cream*

If you’re looking for something that repairs the skin barrier while at the same time delivering anti-ageing benefits, Dr Althea’s Resveratrol 345NA Intensive Repair Cream has you covered.

This cream is formulated with Resveratrol, a naturally-occurring chemical compound that’s mostly found in red grapes. Resveratrol is meant to be particularly effective at helping the skin repair itself and improving texture.

You’ll also find a handful of other anti-inflammatory plant extracts in here, like Centella Asiatica, Houttuynia Cordata, Turmeric and Marigold. And, like many other barrier-repairing creams on this list, this contains Beta-Glucan, Adenosine and Hyaluronic Acid too.

This has an ultra-lightweight gel texture that just melts into the skin. It’s lightly scented – it actually smells pretty similar to the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream! And it comes in a metal tube so it’s really easy to squeeze out every last drop of product.

6. Make P:rem Safe Me. Relief Intensive CP Cream

Make P:rem excels at creating nourishing, soothing products for even the most sensitive skin. Their Safe Me line is particularly effective at boosting moisture and reducing irritation.

If you’re not familiar with the brand, the Safe Me. Relief Intensive CP Cream is a great place to start. It contains classic skin-soothers like Panthenol and Oat Kernel Oil, as well as multiple forms of hyaluronic acid which help keep the skin hydrated.

This cream is an excellent choice for sensitive skin as it’s alcohol, essential oil and fragrance-free. It also contains skin-identical ingredients like Ceramide NP and Phytosphingosine which strengthen the moisture barrier and keep the skin looking plump and healthy.

7. Eucerin Aquaphor Skin Soothing Gel Balm

This isn’t a new product by any means – and I’m sure most people have tried it already – but I couldn’t not include it in this list as dry, irritated skin is exactly what it was created for!

Aquaphor is one of the OG barrier-repairing products. It’s actually more of an ointment than a cream (since the main ingredient is liquid paraffin), so expect this to be a lot thicker than some of the other products in this post.

Liquid paraffin, otherwise known as mineral oil, is occlusive so it locks moisture into the skin. It’s a bit of a controversial ingredient as – while it’s largely not considered comedogenic in itself – sweat, dirt and dead skin cells can get trapped beneath this occlusive layer, causing clogged pores. That’s not to say you’ll definitely breakout if you use it though!

Aside from mineral oil, we’ve got Panthenol and Bisabolol, which both quell inflammation and soothe the skin, and glycerin which is a humectant.

All in all, this a great balm to use if you’re looking for rapid relief from extreme dryness or irritation. It’s a particularly good accompaniment to tretinoin if you’re experiencing the dreaded retinoid burn!

8. Dear, Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream

The sky blue colour may be the first thing that attracts people to this cream, but there’s a reason why many go on to repurchase it!

If you’re looking for something that’s cooling, redness-reducing and suited to all skin types, the Dear, Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream is a great one to try. It’s powered by a whole heap of peptides which have amazing anti-ageing benefits. They stimulate collagen and elastin, moisturise the skin, and improve texture and firmness.

We’ve also got loads of soothing plant extracts in here, like Centella Asiatica, Purslane and Roman Chamomile. Plus nourishing oils like Argan and Jojoba.

This cream is lightweight but packs a punch in the hydration department nevertheless. Oily and combination skin types may find this works best as a stand-alone moisturiser, while those with super dry skin might want to use it before or after their moisturiser to add an extra layer of hydration.

9. iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream

If rich, occlusive textures are really not your thing, you’ll love iUNIK’s Centella Calming Gel Cream. This is a super lightweight, clear gel formula that absorbs into the skin like water.

As the name suggests, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water (70%) is the key ingredient in this cream, with Tea Tree Leaf Water (10%) coming up just behind. It also contains skin-brightening ingredients like Niacinamide and Licorice Root, along with classic soothers like Allantoin and Adenosine.

The dimethicone in this cream gives it a soft, semi-matte finish that oily skin types will definitely appreciate. Dry skin types, however, may want to supplement this with a thicker moisturiser, especially overnight.

For my dry-combo skin, this makes a great daytime cream – it’s ideal for summer as it has an instant cooling sensation. But, in general, I do like a tad more hydration in the evening.

10. Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Restoring Barrier Gel Cream*

My skin barrier was not in a good place when I picked out this product. With a name that literally spells out its purpose, ‘Skin Restoring Barrier Gel Cream’, I was really hoping that this gem from Skinfix would give it a much-needed boost.

This is a water-based cream that’s formulated with squalane and hyaluronic acid to support the skin’s moisture barrier. It also contains Niacinamide and Zinc PCA which help control sebum production, and Allantoin for that extra soothing element.

One of my favourite things about this product, aside from how cooling and moisturising it is, is the packaging. This has one of those press-top dispensers so you don’t actually have to dip your fingers into the product. It might be inconvenient to some but it does feel a bit more hygienic!

As a gel-cream, this is lighter than you might expect from a barrier-repairing product. Since it isn’t heavy or occlusive though, I think it’s a great option for oily and acne-prone skin.

11. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream*

Not to be confused with the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Cream, the SKIN1004 Soothing Cream is a lightweight beige gel that has immense calming power.

This is one of my favourite daily summer moisturisers because it’s super cooling and refreshing. I also find that this cream works really well for targeted irritation relief. If my skin is feeling particularly sore or dry in certain areas, a thin layer of this will immediately soothe it and bring the redness down.

A quick glimpse at the ingredients list reveals why this cream is so effective. It contains 72% Centella Asiatica Extract and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (found in Licorice) which both have anti-inflammatory properties. There’s also four different ceramides in here, as well as humectants like Hyaluronic Acid and Trehalose.

I slather my face in this cream so it does take some time to dry down. Because of this, I tend to use it at night when I’m not in a rush to apply sunscreen or makeup over the top. By morning my skin looks much more calm and healthy!

12. Scientia Ceramide Skin Rescue Moisture Barrier Balm

A lightweight gel-cream that boosts hydration, soothes the skin and supports the moisture barrier? Sign me up!

The Scientia Ceramide Skin Rescue Moisture Barrier Balm is another ‘recovery cream’ that does what it says on the tin. This product was formulated with compromised skin in mind. So, if you’ve damaged your skin barrier and are looking for some help repairing it, you’ve got to give this one a try.

This balm is chock-full of ceramides, nourishing plant oils and anti-inflammatory plant extracts. It also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and salicylic acid to keep pores clear.

This balm may be too light for some, especially if you’re in search of something thick, creamy and nourishing. But if you have oily, acne-prone skin that doesn’t get on with rich skincare products, this could be a winner.

13. Needly Panthenol Water Gel Cream

Needly is an emerging Korean skincare brand with a focus on ‘clean’, effective ingredients. The packaging is a minimalist’s dream, but the products themselves are worth plenty of hype too. Their toner pads are currently trending… and I think the Panthenol Water Gel Cream deserves the same attention!

This cream contains loads of skin-loving ingredients: Panthenol, Green Tea, Centella Asiatica, Rosemary, Purslane. It’s hard to fit them all in one list! It’s rich in humectants too, with hyaluronic acid and glycerin keeping the skin plump and hydrated.

Like the Scientia Balm, this is an ultra-lightweight gel so it’s best suited to oily or combination skin types. If you’ve got dry skin but think this cream sounds great, you could try layering it underneath a thicker moisturiser to really lock in moisture.

There’s not much online about Needly (or the brand’s products!) so I’d love to see it become more accessible in the future!

Have you tried any of these soothing barrier-repair creams? If not, which one would you like to try first? Let me know!