Your skin barrier is your first line of defence—and when it’s compromised, your entire skincare routine becomes ineffective. Dryness, redness, flaking, sensitivity—these are not just signs of age or environment. They’re signs of dysfunction.
TL;DR
- The skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin, essential for moisture retention and protection
- It’s disrupted by over-exfoliation, aircon, harsh products, and low humidity
- Most moisturisers don’t fix it—they sit on the surface
- Sómeu delivers low molecular weight actives (<210 daltons) to the basal layer for real repair
- The result: stronger skin, restored hydration, visibly healthier function
What is the skin barrier?
The skin barrier, or stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of your epidermis.
It’s made up of flattened dead skin cells (corneocytes) held together by a matrix of lipids—primarily ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol.
This layer plays a critical role in:
- Retaining moisture
- Protecting against environmental stressors
- Regulating pH
- Supporting your microbiome
- Signalling repair within the skin
Signs your barrier is damaged
You may have a compromised barrier if you notice:
- Persistent dryness or tightness
- Redness or sensitivity
- Flaking or peeling
- Stinging when applying products
- Skin that feels oily and dehydrated
These are not simply signs of skin type.
They are markers of barrier dysfunction—and the longer they persist, the more compromised your skin becomes.
What’s weakening your barrier?
Several everyday habits and environments are responsible for barrier breakdown:
- Over-cleansing and harsh foaming washes
- Physical or frequent chemical exfoliation
- Dry indoor air from heaters and air conditioning
- Alcohol-based toners or stripping actives
- Stress, sleep deprivation, and a poor diet
These stressors wear down your lipid matrix, leaving skin vulnerable to water loss and inflammation.
Why moisturiser isn’t enough
Most skincare products provide surface-level hydration.
They improve texture temporarily, but fail to restore true function. Why?
Because many actives (including hyaluronic acid) have a molecular weight too high to penetrate the skin barrier.
For context:
- Hyaluronic acid: ~5000 daltons
- Collagen: ~3000 daltons
- Sómeu actives: <210 daltons
In skincare, molecular weight matters. If the actives can’t get through, they can’t fix the problem.
Sómeu repairs from within
Sómeu is built differently. We use bioavailable ingredients small enough to move through the stratum corneum and reach the basal layer—where real skin repair begins.
Key functional ingredients:
- Amino acids (Glycine, Lysine, Arginine): essential for collagen and elastin production
- MSM: increases permeability and supports cellular repair
- Alpha lipoic acid: powerful antioxidant that enhances regeneration
- Botanical lipids: restore skin’s natural lipid barrier
By targeting the source—not just the surface—Sómeu supports lasting hydration, improved resilience, and visible transformation in 14 days or less.
Rebuild, don’t mask
Hydration without barrier function is superficial.
Sómeu’s 3-step system is designed to cleanse without stripping, hydrate beyond the surface, and rebuild the skin’s ability to function optimally.
- Cleanse → Mist → Repair
- No fluff. No filler. Just science-backed, skin-first formulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between dry skin and a damaged barrier?
Dry skin is a skin type. A damaged barrier is a condition. You can have oily skin with barrier damage. The key difference is function—a healthy barrier regulates moisture and protects the skin. A compromised barrier leaks both.
2. Can hyaluronic acid fix a damaged barrier?
Not effectively. Its molecular size is too large to reach the deeper skin layers. It hydrates on the surface but doesn’t support structural repair. Sómeu’s actives are designed to penetrate and restore.
3. How long until I see results?
Users typically report noticeable improvement in hydration, texture, and elasticity within 2 weeks, based on clinical feedback and focus group studies.
4. Do I need all 3 steps in the Sómeu routine?
Yes. Each product supports the next:
- The bar cleanser preserves lipid balance
- The mist enhances absorption and adds hydration
- The Active21 cream delivers intensive repair and moisture retention
They’re designed to function as a complete system—no excess, no waste.
