A method and system for providing a magnetoresistive structure is disclosed. The magnetoresistive structure includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, a free layer, a filter layer, a specular layer, a barrier layer, and a capping layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer resides between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer is electrically conductive and resides between the filter layer and the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The specular layer includes a first material and is electrically insulating. The barrier layer resides between the specular oxide layer and the capping layer. The barrier layer is nonmagnetic and includes a second material different material from the first material. The capping layer includes a third material different from the second material.