Will it repair or wreck my barrier?

The lipids and humectants that rebuild a damaged barrier, and the surfactants, solvents and high-pH ingredients that strip it.

What this cannot tell you

Dose and frequency decide most of this: a surfactant in a cleanser you rinse is not the same as one you leave on.
A damaged barrier usually needs fewer actives rather than more repair ingredients.

Educational information only. Not medical advice. A verdict here is a reason to patch test or ask a clinician, never a diagnosis.

5 of 403

As stripping as sodium lauryl sulfate.

pH around 9, well above skin’s acid mantle.

Caustic in concentrate; the lye used for liquid soap.

Caustic in concentrate; only safe fully reacted in a finished product.

A harsh anionic surfactant; the reference irritant in patch testing.