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Everything to Know About Ceramides
Tori Douglas
Global Digital
4 min read
Discover the benefits of ceramides for your skin.
With skincare enthusiasts always raving about ingredients like squalane and niacinamide, we are here to give ceramides their flowers. Keep reading for everything you need to know about ceramides to maintain skin's healthy moisture and how they power some of our latest innovations.
What are ceramides?
Skin’s structure is made up of three main parts: foundation, a connective layer, and the protective lipid barrier. Maintaining and reinforcing skin structure is critical for youthful, healthy-looking skin. With age, skin becomes drier and less supple with a rough, tight feel. One factor that contributes to this is the decline in production of naturally occurring lipids. Lipids help to lock in moisture. Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids in the skin that make up around 50% of the composition of the skin’s barrier lipids. Skin cells and ceramides work together like a puzzle. When pieces are missing, you can physically see the need to fill the gaps. Ceramides help our skin to seal in moisture and block out harmful elements.
What are the benefits of ceramides?
Skincare products with ceramides will help fortify the skin’s barrier and increase hydration. Ceramides are heroes for anti-aging and maintaining youthful-looking skin. As you age, the body naturally produces fewer ceramides. When your natural ceramide production begins to decrease, the skin will show visible signs of aging, dehydration, and skin sensitivity such as redness, itchiness, and discomfort. When ceramides are replenished through topical care, they help to restore and strengthen the moisture barrier for hydrated, smooth, and supple skin.
What types of ceramides exist?
There are two types of ceramides, natural and synthetic. Natural ceramides are found in the outer layer of your skin, while synthetic ceramides are man-made and can be added topically. If you are looking to increase natural ceramide production, adding healthy fats, eggs, and wheat flour to your diet will help. Synthetic ceramides are used in topical products such as skincare and bodycare products to boost ceramide production or mimic the traits of ceramides in order to protect the barrier.
Which skin types benefit from ceramides?
Since ceramides naturally occur in the skin, they are ideal for all skin types—even sensitive skin or oily skin. Ceramides in skincare, bodycare, or lip care are considered skin-replenishers.
Which other ingredients do ceramides work well with?
Ceramides work best when paired with other skin-replenishing ingredients, like fatty acids, or skin-restoring ingredients like squalane, niacinamide, or peptides. If you are looking for skin barrier restoration, pairing ceramides with peptides may boost the protective layer for firmer, bouncier skin. If you are looking for a boosted glow and hydration, pairing ceramides with squalane or hyaluronic acid may aid in deep hydration for healthy-looking, supple skin.
Skincare with ceramides
Tea Elixir Serum is a high-performance face serum that boosts skin’s visible resilience to external life stressors. Formulated with pore-refining niacinamide, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and skin barrier-strengthening ceramides, this advanced daily serum unveils a smoother texture, visible glow, restored bounce, and reduced look of wrinkles.
Black Tea Anti-Aging Ceramide Moisturizer is an advanced face cream that works to correct signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness caused by a natural decline in collagens. This high-performance face moisturizer is scientifically proven to help support lost skin structure while remaining gentle on all skin types.
Discover more restorative, replenishing skincare and bodycare products.
Written by Tori Douglas for Fresh. Tori is a NYC-based digital and brand strategist. Tori has worked for various publications and brands such as Kiehl's, The Body Shop, Deux Hommes Magazine, and Elite Daily with her expertise lying in the fashion & beauty space.