In this blog post, we want to share why we developed Cloud Barrier, our new barrier-strengthening moisturiser designed especially for dry, sensitive and acne-prone skin. You can find it HERE!
Within our community, many of you experience acne — from the occasional hormonal breakout to persistent acne that requires medical treatment. Several of us on the team have gone through medical acne treatment ourselves — myself (Maria, co-founder) included — and we know just how dry, tight and sensitive your skin can become. I remember my cheeks almost cracking when I smiled! And I was redder than then crayfish us swedes eat during Crayfish Party season ;)
A moisturiser for dry, sensitised and acne-prone skin
So many of you have been asking for a moisturiser that genuinely supports a weakened skin barrier, whether your dryness is due to acne medication, seasonal changes, over-exfoliation, or simply a naturally fragile skin barrier. Some of us are just born with skin that needs a little extra support (myself included).
The first idea for Cloud Barrier was actually a night mask. My original brief to our chemist Lotta described it as “a liquid, overnight bandage for skin in need of SOS repair.” But night masks usually rely on high levels of silicones and occlusive ingredients to lock in moisture — almost like a liquid plastic glove. While brilliant for very dry skin, these heavy occlusives can be problematic for acne-prone skin. And more importantly, we realised we wanted a formula that could strengthen the barrier day and night, not only while you sleep.
Mission: A barrier cream that fits into real life
A huge priority for us is creating skincare that fits effortlessly into your daily routine. Everything we put on the market must work seamlessly with you SPF and makeup. So, you should be able to layer Cloud Barrier under SPF and make-up without pilling, and you shouldn’t need to wait half an hour before putting your head on the pillow to avoid stickiness. Skincare must feel simple in our little cloud world.
So, the night mask idea went into the digital bin — and its best qualities were carried over into a cream suitable for both morning and evening use.
Finding the perfect balance: Rich Yet lightweight
We tested several versions on different skin types — from our marketing team members Dahlia and Daniella, who both have acne-prone skin, to family members with extremely dry skin, as well as test pilots from our lovely community (you can sign up HERE!). We adjusted ingredients up and down, aiming to create a rich moisturiser for dry skin that still feels light and non-greasy for acne-prone skin.
As the overthinker I am, I would sometimes wake up at night worrying — one moment afraid the cream was TOO rich, the next convinced it was too light. You want to make it perfect for everyone, even though you (when you work with a living organism like skin and skincare chemistry!) logically know that’s impossible.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, centella and ectoin
Ceramides, centella asiatica and (this year’s star ingredient?) ectoin were essential from the start. But then Lotta found a kimchi-fermented, clinically tested heartleaf extract from Korea — an ingredient that made all our hearts race a little faster. Creating skincare is a lot like cooking: ingredients matter, but the percentages, how they interact, and the expertise of the “chef” determine the final result.
Our final formula: A barrier-strengthening hydrating cream for everyday use
By April, we felt we had perfected the recipe. A super-hydrating, barrier-repair moisturiser that is nourishing enough for dry skin yet lightweight enough for daytime wear, even under make-up.
As I’m writing this, Cloud Barrier is also undergoing third-party clinical testing in Greece to measure its effect on transepidermal water loss (TEWL) – essentially how much it reduces skin’s moisture loss. Ideally this would have been finished before launch, but if there’s one thing you learn as the founder of a skincare brand, it’s that delays are simply part of the journey.
We hope you'll love Cloud Barrier as much as we do!
Our team is absolutely obsessed, and we can’t wait to hear what you think. Below are some of my favourite hacks for using Cloud Barrier — and many more will surely follow.
xx Maria + the entire Common Clouds team
