Ever feel like your skin is rebelling—dry, sensitive, and prone to irritation, even when you diligently apply your skincare routine? Chances are, your skin barrier, that crucial outermost layer acting as your body's protective shield, is damaged. Understanding how to recover this vital defense is key to achieving visibly healthy, resilient skin.
One ingredient that’s standing out for skin barrier repair is Beta Glucan. In skincare, it’s known for its groundbreaking hydrating, soothing, and skin barrier-supporting properties. Learn how to incorporate this powerful barrier repair ingredient into your skincare routine with our Lancôme skincare experts’ simple, step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Cleanse
Step 2: Toner or Essence (optional)
Step 3: Targeted Treatments
Step 4: Incorporate Beta Glucan Serum or Cream
Step 5: Allow Ingredients to Absorb
Step 6: Moisturizer
Step 7: Incorporate Beta Glucan Eye Cream
Step 8: Sunscreen SPF 30+ (a must!)
Step 1: Cleanse Your Skin Thoroughly
Begin by gently cleansing your face and neck using your preferred cleanser. This removes any impurities, makeup, and prepares your skin to effectively absorb the subsequent products. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel.
Step 2: Apply Your Toner or Essence
If your routine includes a toner or essence, apply it next. Gently sweep your toner across your face with a cotton pad or pat your essence directly onto your skin with your fingertips. These products help to balance and prime skin to support the absorption of ingredients.
Step 3: Apply Targeted Treatments
If your routine includes other targeted serums with ingredients like Vitamin C, Salicylic Acid, or Retinol, generally, beta glucan, a hydrating and soothing ingredient, is applied after. These treatments require direct access to the skin to work best, and when followed with beta glucan, potential side effects of these resurfacing ingredients are minimized.
Step 4: Introduce Beta Glucan
Now it's time for your beta-glucan product, which, depending on formulation, could be in the form of an enveloping serum or a thin cream or lotion.
• Dispense about 2-3 drops (or a pea-sized amount) of your beta-glucan formula, like Lancome's Génifique Ultimate Recovery Serum, into the palm of your hand.
• Gently warm the product between your palms.
• Lightly press and pat the product evenly over your face and neck. Avoid harsh rubbing; gentle patting motions aid absorption.
• If a hyaluronic acid serum is part of your usual routine, you can mix these formulas as beta glucan and hyaluronic acid are complimentary ingredients.
Génifique Ultimate Recovery Serum
Visible Damage & Skin Barrier Recovery
Step 5: Allow for Absorption
Give your skin a minute or two to fully absorb the beta glucan formula. You should feel your skin becoming more supple and hydrated.
Step 6: Follow with Your Moisturizer
Daytime Moisturizer
With the goal of repairing a damaged skin barrier, look for a daytime moisturizer with ingredients that can support these processes. Consider a peptide cream that can offer hydrating benefits as well as the ability to enhance cell renewal. These benefits are complimentary to the benefits of beta glucan, as peptides focus on renewal within the skin and beta glucan repairs and protects the outermost layer, effectively pairing up to enhance barrier repair and prevent the visible signs of skin damage, like fine lines.
Nighttime Moisturizer
At night, your skin gets to work on renewal, helping to address skin concerns, like a damaged skin barrier, effectively1. It’s the optimal time to lock in moisture and replenish the “mortar” of your skin barrier. Look for a nighttime moisturizer that provides deep hydration and replenishes essential lipids, with ingredients like ceramides, cholesterol, or fatty acids. These help to seal in hydration and the benefits of beta glucan, reinforcing the skin barrier, and providing long-lasting moisture to support the barrier repair process.
Rénergie H.P.N. 300-Peptide Cream
Reduce Sagging & Wrinkles
Advanced Génifique Night Cream
Hydrating & Nourishing
Step 7: Apply a Nourishing Eye Cream with Beta Glucan
The skin around the eye contour is some of the thinnest on the body, making it even more susceptible to skin damage. Dry or sensitive skin around the eyes can be particularly uncomfortable, especially during colder months. To address dry patches and sensitivities, choose an eye cream formulated with beta glucan, like Lancôme’s Génifique Ultimate Eye Cream. The beta glucan eye cream gets to work fast, reinforcing the skin's natural barrier with the proper hydration while promoting faster recovery from daily aggressors.
Génifique Ultimate Eye Cream
Dark Circle Reducing & Depuffing
Step 8: Don't Forget SPF (Morning)
At the end of your morning routine, always finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from UV damage. This step is crucial to protect your skin and minimize future damage.
When to Use Beta Glucan
Beta glucan is known to be gentle and beneficial for daily use. You can typically incorporate it into both your morning and evening skincare routines for continuous hydration, soothing, and barrier support. Always consult with your dermatologist for personalized recommendations.
By following these steps, you can effectively integrate beta glucan into your skincare regimen, helping to achieve visibly healthier, more resilient skin.
1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9424081/
