Having sensitive or reactive skin can be a tricky. On one hand, you want to slather your face with products that promise to hydrate and soothe, but there’s always the risk of exposing your skin to sneaky ingredients that could cause stinging, sensitivity or worse—even more irritation. Throw in the fact that my skin is also super acne-prone, and it’s been a struggle to perfect my routine, especially in the winter.

But when Ilia launched its new Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream, I knew I had to test it out ASAP, as the rich, soothing formula sounded like just what the doctor ordered. To truly put this launch to the test, I brought it with me to the cold, windy, and sun-drenched slopes of Canada’s Whistler Mountain for a little ski getaway. Read on for all of the details on Ilia’s latest innovation and my honest review.

The Inspiration

While all of Ilia’s makeup products include skin-loving ingredients, the celeb-approved brand has launched more traditional skincare products over the last few years. The brand’s latest, the Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream, sees the brand luxury with necessity.

“I wanted to develop something that people could trust to take care of their skin without worrying about irritation,” Sasha Plavsic, Ilia’s founder, tells Byrdie. “The goal was to create a formula that truly repairs, protects, and hydrates skin while feeling lightweight and comfortable to wear.”

The Formula

One of the hero ingredients in the barrier cream is colloidal oatmeal, which has natural anti-inflammatory and emollient properties. It works to help relieve irritation and calm and soothe redness on the skin. The cream was also formulated with ceramides to help replenish the skin’s barrier, “Our ceramide complex is also essential for strengthening and maintaining the skin barrier, providing lasting comfort,” Plavsic says.

She adds that there’s also “bioavailable calcium that helps reinforce the skin’s barrier, and algae hydrogel which helps to provide long-lasting hydration for the skin.”  And if your sensitive skin senses are still tingling, don’t worry—the cream is fragrance-free and accepted by the National Eczema Association. “During our clinical studies, every single person said it instantly calmed their skin, and that they would choose it over their current moisturizer.” 

My Review

Finding a thick and hydrating cream that won’t break me out or sting my skin is an ongoing struggle. Luckily for me, Ilia’s Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream totally exceeded my expectations and has become a critical step in my skincare routine that I didn’t know I needed. The texture is a dreamy cream-to-gel, so it glides on with instant hydrating power and soaks in fast. It also creates a smooth base for my foundation without piling.

While a barrier cream that works well day-to-day is nice, when I brought it with me on a ski trip I was really blown away.  I applied the barrier cream in the morning and when I saw myself in the mirror that afternoon I was shocked by the fact that my complexion looked even and hydrated, even after speeding down the mountain. There were no signs of redness or irritation, and most importantly no stinging pain. Even in the brutal windy conditions of Whistler Mountain, Barrier Build kept my skin protected, calm, and hydrated.