Dealing with skin that’s dry, red, scaly, or just all-around irritated? Chances are your moisture barrier is in need of some good old-fashioned TLC. The skin’s moisture barrier, made of cholesterol, fatty acids, and ceramides, is responsible for locking in moisture and keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. When it’s damaged or compromised (as in, your skin can’t hold on to moisture), it can cause serious skin hydration issues. “Think of your skin like a cement sidewalk. When your moisture barrier is broken, it’s like deep cracks running up and down your sidewalk,” says Janet Prystowsky, an NYC-based dermatologist. “For our skin, those cracks expose our sensitive skin layers to dry air, causing them to dehydrate.”