: In the epoxy manuals I have they mention using barrier creams when working
: with epoxy. They do not give much info on them however. What exactly are
: barrier creams?

It's a cream that you spread on your hands before you put on your gloves. It is soluble in soap and water, but not in sweat, so it will stay put long enough to get some work done. Like between start of work and lunch time, etc. They temporarily seal the skin pores so any chemical that gets through or around the gloves doesn't get directly to the skin.

: Where can you buy them?

"Glove" is available at paint and big box hardware stores, but it's not the best around for epoxy resins and organic solvents. My favorite is "Arretil", available at industrial safety outlets. Around Seattle that would be Sanderson's, or Safety and Supply.

: How are they used, with gloves -
: without gloves (that seems a little crazy).

With gloves. Without gloves the stuff would just wear off.

: I have been using latex rubber
: gloves and I sometimes wonder if they are safe due to their thickness and
: capability as a barrier to epoxy. Can epoxy penetrate thin latex gloves?

Not to any great extent, but they are full of pinholes. And they tear easily as well. Where I used to get hit the worst was the insides of the wrists, where you grab the glove off the opposing hand to pull it off.

Shop Tip: When you lather up before putting the gloves on, put some cream on your eyelids too. Sometimes volatiles get on your face and sweat carries them that direction. And sometimes you forget and wipe sweat out of your eyes and contaminate the area. Finally, wash thoroughly before using the rest room. Some places are worse than others when it comes to contact dermatitis...