Ceramides are one of those words I’ve heard thrown around in skincare a lot, but never knew too much about what they were until I did a bit of digging. A lot of skincare products include ceramides (for good reason, of course) so back in the day when I was throwing products on my face without much skincare knowledge, I knew they contained Ceramides but I didn’t know why. I do now!
What is it?
Ceramides are what are called ‘Lipids’ (fatty acids, but I think the word Lipid sounds nicer!) that occur naturally in the skin. They form around 50% of the skin barrier and play an important role in keeping that barrier happy and together, preventing the skin barrier from becoming too permeable, thus keeping in the moisture our skin craves. In simple terms: they bond the cells together at the surface level and create a plump and protective top layer that retains moisture.
Even though these are already present in our skin, their presence diminishes over time with aging, which is why they’re such a fundamental component in anti-aging skincare.
What are the benefits?
First and foremost, moisture is locked into the skin. Moisture isn’t lost via the skin barrier when Ceramides have anything to do with it.
As a result of moisture getting locked in, signs of aging are reduced. When the skin is dry and dehydrated, some unwelcome characteristics are more prominent. This is because skin is less plump when it’s dry and dehydrated, so hydration and moisture really are key to fighting and hiding signs of aging.
Ceramides also aid in fighting environmental aggressors and protecting the skin. They essentially help the skin barrier do just that: be a barrier for keeping the good stuff in, and the bad stuff out.
They’re not known as a ‘powerhouse ingredient’ for no reason!
Things to be aware of
This is one of those perfect ingredients that are compatible with everyone as we all produce them naturally – they’re what are known as ‘skin-identical’ ingredients. They can be used on all types of skin, including sensitive and delicate as they pose such a low risk of any damage.
It’s always nice to know you can use an ingredient freely and without needing to consider any risks!
So, a shorter post but Ceramides keep it short and sweet! A simple, but special ingredient that features in some of the most iconic skincare products for good reason.
I hope you enjoyed reading! I haven’t updated my blog in a while as life has been busy but I’ll be trying to post a bit more regularly. As usual, I’m not a skincare expert and this is based on my personal research and experience. For any concerns, please contact a professional to make sure you get the most well-suited advice for your needs and your skin type.
In A Beauty World 
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