The 12 Best Barrier Creams On The Market Right Now + How To Pick

This powerful cream is a dream for sensitive skin types. With colloidal oatmeal and beta-glucan, the balm-to-cream formula melts into the skin, providing instant relief and continuous moisture. Clinical studies were completed on sensitive and dry skin types, demonstrating this cream's ability to rapidly reduce redness, repair barrier function in one hour, and relieve dryness up to ten layers deep—pretty impressive no? 

What our tester says:

I personally used this barrier cream when my skin was dry as a bone and highly sensitive due to over-exfoliation. After one single use, I woke up with a visibly healed barrier and less redness, and I finally felt relief that countless other creams didn't provide. I love the consistency because it's heavy enough to provide occlusion, but it won't weigh down your skin if you want to use it on a cold, dry winter day.

Finding a barrier cream that deeply hydrates without leaving problematic residue is tough for those with clog-prone skin. However, if you’re frequently using potent actives like retinol and chemical exfoliants to treat your breakouts, you’ll need an equally powerful moisturizer to pair them with. This gel cream is the perfect medium for anyone with combination, oily, or acne-prone skin. Not only does the formula contain saccharide isomerate (a blend of corn-derived sugars acting as humectants), but it’s also packed with 2% niacinamide to help balance oil production and excess shine. 

Traditional barrier salves are great for lip care, but they’re not always sustainably made. If you’re ready to make the switch, go for this fragrance-free balm from Glossier—it’s an actual dupe for commercial petrolatum lip products, sans the petrolatum. You won’t have to sacrifice the texture you love, yet you’ll get even more than a simple occlusive jelly. The newly formulated Balm Dotcom contains vitamin E, shea butter, safflower oil, castor jelly, and synthetic beeswax, nourishing your lips and locking in hydration. If flavored lip balms are your jam, the tinted formulas with flavors like mango, coconut, rose, and more.

What our tester says:

While I was never a fan of petrolatum jelly for the face, I did lather it on my lips daily for many years. This balm is finally a true dupe for the classic lip jelly, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the results. It works even better than the less eco-friendly alternative, thanks to the additional vitamins and botanical extracts.

For those who like an oily finish, this balm is right up your alley. Once you have the solid balm in your hands, your body heat warms it up to be a rich, restorative oil treatment. A blend of 30 different Ayurvedic ingredients, including loads of antioxidants and adaptogens, work to restore the skin barrier and ease the appearance of fine lines. In fact, the clinical results demonstrate that 97% of users saw a significant reduction in fine lines and wrinkles after using the treatment for a month.

What our tester says:

This balm glides on like a dream, providing lasting hydration and irreplaceable dew. I love layering the balm under makeup for an extra glow or as an overnight treatment when my skin is extra dull. The clinical studies on this Ayurvedic are particularly impressive, and the calming sensorial experience is just the cherry on top.

While this barrier cream does go for a high price, the blend is worth every penny. The ingredient list is full of barrier-supporting ingredients that work to encourage healthier-looking skin 24/7, not just when you need extra hydration. Ceramides, oat protein, and squalane ease irritation and dryness.You also get MossCellTec™ in a 2% concentration, which is the first-ever biotechnologically produced moss that has been studied to enhance and support skin resilience.

What our tester says:

I adore this barrier balm, and I personally think the blend is worth the price. If you know you have a skin treatment coming up (like microneedling or laser, for example), this cream is an A+ choice for recovery. You couldn't ask for a more well-rounded formula for barrier repair, from panthenol to ceramides to oat protein and more, you're getting a bang for your buck with this splurge.

If you’re a classic slugging stan, this recovery balm is the perfect petrolatum jelly dupe. However, adding oat oil, ceramides, and squalane makes it an even better option than the classic jelly alone. You can use this one on your lips, on your face, or anywhere else that needs some extra love. The consistency is similar to petrolatum jelly, with slightly less stick.

What our tester says:

This one feels just like the "real deal" petrolatum jelly—making it perfect for those who love slugging. I've had this on hand for a quick lip refresh and used it on my elbows, knees, and even the back of my hands to replenish moisture lost to the dry climate. This one is truly versatile, with a great ingredient list and an affordable price tag—what more could you ask for?

This balm is specifically formulated for the decolletage, but can be used on the neck and body as well. The shea butter base is joined by a host of powerful botanicals like Golden Bell extract, castor seed oil, pink lotus extracts, and several other antioxidant-rich additions. For an even better experience, pair this balm with a gua sha massage on your decolletage, neck, and chest.

What our tester says:

"Granted, it does take a bit more work to break down this balm into a silky oil—but that’s exactly what I love about the treatment. It forces me to slow down and connect with my skin as I massage in the nourishing butters and medicinal plant extracts, which ultimately helps me promote even more circulation and brighten my skin tone. It’s truly a luxurious, divine experience." - Jamie Schneider, Beauty Editor

It’s safe to say most people don’t want to sleep in a sticky jelly all night, but your body skin still deserves the best care possible. To check this box, opt for this uber-rich body cream, instead. The blend includes five different ceramides, niacinamide, and colloidal oatmeal to soothe the skin and encourage a brighter, bouncier skin barrier all over.

Barrier creams are a must for those healing a new tattoo, but some products can actually be too occlusive, preventing the tattoo from seeing any fresh air and healing properly. Lather this balm onto any new or old ink to restore moisture to the skin, encourage quicker healing, and add a protective barrier to the skin. After application, you’ll be left with smoother, brighter skin (with or without tattoos) and skip the greasy finish of traditional healing balms.

One of the most common uses of barrier creams is to ease dry patches, especially for those prone to eczema. This barrier cream from Murad provides quick relief to dry, irritated skin, helping to fight off itch and soothe discomfort. The blend includes colloidal oatmeal, ground cherry extracts, and oat lipids to replenish hydration without triggering more irritation. Consider this your on-the-go lifesaver for dry skin and eczema flares.

What our tester says:

I frequently get eczema flares on my hands, and nothing works as well as this treatment to calm down the itch, redness, and irritation in minutes (no lie). While the package is small, it's perfect for anyone with localized eczema or someone who needs relief on the go, as you can pop it into any handbag for easy access.

Those with seriously dry skin tend to prefer heavy occlusives like coconut oil—the main ingredient in this ultra-rich balm. Coconut is joined by safflower seed oil, beeswax, sea buckthorn oil, and more botanical oils to provide deep hydration to the driest patches of skin. Use this balm on your feet before bed, on elbows and knees when they’re feeling dry, or on the face for a boost of hydration for extra dry skin types.

If your skin is reacting to anything and everything, reach for this balm. The formula was specifically designed for sensitive and reactive skin types and situations, making it your one-stop shop for barrier repair, without the risk of irritation. Beta-glucan helps calm the skin, soothing irritation while jojoba, olive, and sunflower seed oils nourish the barrier and support your skin's hydration through the night. In a clinical study, 92% of participants said skin felt soothed and calmer after 8 hours and 86% said skin barrier felt repaired and renewed overnight—pretty impressive, no?

What our tester says:

Because I'm constantly testing new skin care products, I need something on hand to ease irritation should it come up—that's this balm for me. While I don't use it daily due to the weight, I love having it available to me should I need it, like a safety net saving my skin from extended states of redness and itch. When I wake up after using this treatment, my skin is reset and ready for action.