The invention concerns the use of at least a vegetable oil product selected among the group consisting of vegetable oil oleic distillates, vegetable oil unsaponifiable matters, vegetable oil furan lipids and mixtures thereof, as agents for increasing skin lipid synthesis, in particular lipids of the epidermal skin barrier, in or for preparing a composition containing a pharmaceutically or dermatologically acceptable medium. The use enables to prevent and/or treat deterioration of the skin barrier (dry skin, skin subjected to actinic radiation, ichthyosis, acne, xerosis, atopic dermatitis, sensitive skin, chafing and reactive skin, itching and the like).