The Skin Nerd: Omegas, ceramides, and good fats are what your skin craves

Our barrier needs to be minded in the winter months, when we essentially attack it by blasting up the heat and then going outside into very cold weather

Fats aren’t just beneficial internally — they can be incredibly skin-soothing and hydrating when applied topically

The outermost layer of our skin, our skin’s barrier (which I talk about incessantly due to how important it is), is protected by something called the lipid matrix, made up of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids. Fats in general are something we are very used to speaking about in a negative light — however, fats are integral to how our body and our skin work so they should be embraced rather than avoided. The lipid matrix is essential to how our skin’s barrier functions — namely, how it maintains the moisture levels of the skin.

If our skin’s barrier function is impaired, we may see skin dehydration, dryness, flaking, redness, and irritation. When it’s not working correctly, our skin is not as protected as it should be and external aggressors can irritate it more than it usually would — this includes skincare products and harsh weather.