in my defence

The skin barrier resembles a brick wall with skin cells as bricks and a lipid matrix as mortar. Due to factors like ageing, stress, sun exposure, and climatic conditions, this barrier tends to loosen with time causing cracks and gaps in your skin (which are invisible to the naked eye). But these cracks in your skin barrier is essentially what is called a damaged skin barrier, and when your skin barrier is damaged, you lose moisture (water) from your skin very fast, and you are also susceptible to attack from external bacteria and pathogens. These 2 factors then lead to a host of skin issues to crop up like dehydrated and dry skin, lacklustre skin, sensitised skin prone to redness, inflammation and acne eruptions.

Whether you’re new to skincare or proficient in skincare, each one of us needs to and should proactively protect (& defend) our skin barrier.

A host of skin care issues today primarily stem from the abuse of our skin barrier. Our skin barrier is our first line of defence against all external aggressors. If your skin barrier isn’t strong you’ll inevitably fall prey to a lot of skin issues such as - acne, dehydration, dull skin, lacklustre skin, delayed fading of pigmentation etc.

But keeping a robust and strong barrier can be challenging. The lipids that hold your skin barrier together are constantly depleted from ageing, sun exposure, climatic changes, lifestyle stress and so many other factors that can be hard to control.

Additionally, anyone who suffers from a weak barrier due to genetics (for example those suffering from atopic dermatitis) can benefit immensely from using IMD as the formulation of IMD mimics the natural composition of the skin barrier and fortifies the skin barrier by refilling the depleted cellular lipids.

IMD will first help heal your skin barrier, and then with regular usage fortify it and make it resilient so your skin can repair and protect itself on its own.

20x more ceramides than market standard As per research, the concentration of ceramides in a product needs to be between 0.8 to 2% to promote the recovery of the barrier. However, most ceramide products in the market are formulated with lipid blends that yield a mere 0.015-0.05% of ceramides. IMD contains pure 1% ceramides which is 20x higher than the industry standard to ensure your skin can get the best out of this super ingredient!

Mimics your skin barrier In most barrier repair products, ceramides have either been used in isolation or combined with cholesterol and fatty acids in the wrong ratio which actually impedes (delays) rather than accelerating the barrier recovery. IMD combines ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol in the molar ratio of 3:1:1. Also, called the GOLDEN RATIO. This is the ratio in which lipids are naturally present in your skin, and research has shown that when ceramides are combined with other lipids in this ratio: (i) the penetration of ceramides into the skin barrier is enhanced, and (ii) there is accelerated recovery of the skin barrier.

Light-weight, fast-absorbing and works for all skin types Ceramides are: (i) a very expensive ingredient, and (ii) a very thick, waxy and unstable molecule to work with. Therefore, most ceramide products in the market are formulated with lipid blends that have an extremely low concentration of ceramides to control the feel, texture, stability and price of the end product. IMD has been formulated using a patented dispersion technology that allows us to use pure ceramides at a high dosage while still making a very lightweight formula with a pleasant texture.

YES. IMD can be safely and suitably combined with every single active ingredient. It’s in fact recommended to use IMD with other active ingredients to proactively protect your skin barrier against any damage or irritation.

IMD contains only a minimal amount (0.03ml) of fragrance which is alcohol free and allergen free. It is non-sensitizing on the skin and does not cause any sort of irritation in the dosage that it’s used in. We add fragrance to mask the unpleasant smell of ceramides, as this formulation contains a high concentration of pure ceramides which can be unpleasant in smell. This masking fragrance in minimal quantity gives a better sensorial experience to the usage of this product. We believe in appropriate dosing, and within the permissible dosage limits, fragrance is not harmful on the skin.

Yes, IMD can be safely used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It does not contain any ingredients that increase cellular turnover like retinol, which are usually the ingredients warned against usage during such times. All ingredients used in IMD are under clinically recommended doses and therefore, safe and effective on the skin. :)

Ceramides along with other barrier lipids (like cholesterol and fatty acids) help with post-acne management and healing. When your acne pustule has burst, and the gunk is out, your acne is an open wound with inflammation.

At this stage, the acne wound needs to heal quickly to minimise the scarring and pigment from developing. To speed up healing in the skin, you need to ensure there is minimum water loss from the skin (meaning no dehydrated skin), and allow your skin’s natural oils and lipids to seal your skin and activate wound healing.

IMD's lipid rich formula helps to reduce water loss from your skin and allows your skin to have the necessary nourished environment for speedy wound healing. In addition, Purslane Extract (40%), Allantoin and Panthenol are excellent anti-inflammatory and wound healing ingredients that support healing of acne. As much as you can minimise your skin's water loss and keep your skin nourished, the faster your wound will heal and lesser will be the pigmentation and scarring.

Yes! Keeping oily and acne-prone skin types in mind, we made IMD extremely lightweight, non-greasy, non-comedogenic and fast-absorbing. IMD contains 40% Purslane Extract, which is not just hydrating and cooling on the skin, but it also helps with any inflammation that you may experience with active acne.

It has a very thin consistency that is easily spreadable and can be layered on as desired. So, if you have oily and acne-prone skin, start by using not more than 1-1.5 pumps and then add/ layer as required. With as little as 1 pump, IMD will keep your skin feeling nourished, plump and supple all day!

Important note:
If you have congestion prone or acne prone skin, then don’t layer any heavy sunscreens under IMD, or any other ceramide products along with IMD. And if you do layer Hustle and IMD both, make sure you follow our usage guidelines carefully, and ensure to use a good cleanser like good grease or any other oil based cleanser at night that would deeply cleanse your pores to avoid any skin congestion.

IMD is the best companion for your dry skin! Dry skin tends to have low sebum and a low concentration of lipids (weak skin barrier). Without the protective lipids as a sealant on your skin surface, dry skin tends to have higher trans-epidermal water loss, meaning the water from your skin evaporates fast thereby making it feel dehydrated, tight and flaky.

IMD contains 1% pure ceramides (20x higher than industry standard), in combination with cholesterol and 4 fatty acids which literally replenish the lost lipids in your skin making your skin barrier more fortified with protective lipids.

A short term benefit you will experience with IMD is instantly softer, hydrated and well nourished skin. The long term benefit you'll notice with IMD is that your skin barrier starts getting more resilient and naturally fortified with protective lipids. This will increase your skin's natural ability to reduce its own water loss and maintain a well moisturised skin barrier.

So, if you have dry skin, start by using 2 pumps and then add / layer more as required.

Important note:
IMD is extremely lightweight and absorbs very quickly into the skin. A lot of our customers with dry skin have enjoyed using IMD in peak winters because of the rich nourishment it provides. However, if you prefer moisturisers that feel heavy on the skin, then IMD may not be the best fit for you. We hope you can make an informed decision based on your preferences :)

IMD is a great addition for your combination skin because it caters to both your dry and oily areas.

Dry skin tends to have low sebum and a low concentration of lipids (weak skin barrier). Without the protective lipids as a sealant on your skin surface, dry skin tends to have higher trans-epidermal water loss, meaning the water from your skin evaporates fast thereby making it feel dehydrated, tight and flaky. IMD contains 1% pure ceramides (20x higher than industry standard), in combination with cholesterol and 4 fatty acids which literally replenish the lost lipids in your skin making your skin barrier more fortified with protective lipids.

On the other hand, we made IMD extremely lightweight, non-greasy, non-comedogenic and fast-absorbing so that it works well for oily skin as well. IMD contains 40% Purslane Extract, which is not just hydrating and cooling on the skin, but it also helps with any inflammation that you may experience with active acne. It has a very thin consistency that is easily spreadable and can be layered on as desired.

So, if you have combination skin, start by using 1.5-2 pumps and then add/ layer as required. With as little as 1.5 pumps, IMD will keep your skin feeling nourished, plump and supple all day!

IMD is great for sensitive skin! It contains a powerful blend of calming and anti-inflammatory agents - 40% Purslane Extract, 0.5% Bisabolol, Allantoin, Panthenol, Turmeric Root Extract and Moringa Seed Oil - that work together to soothe itchiness, irritation and redness.

So, if you have sensitive skin, start by using 1-1.5 pumps and see how your skin takes to it before you increase the quantity. Generally, upon application of IMD, you can expect a calming and cooling effect that really helps soothe irritated skin.

Always patch test first on the jawline overnight, if you have extra irritable or allergy prone skin :)