Ceramides

What are ceramides?

Ceramides make up about 50% of the skin barrier and are so-called lipids, i.e. oils, and are naturally present in the skin. To understand the function of ceramides, you can imagine that the outer layer of skin (stratum corneum) is made up of bricks. The skin cells act as bricks, and the lipids act as a mortar and are the material that binds the bricks together. In other words, ceramides are an important part of a healthy skin barrier and an important building block of our skin.

Properties in skin care

Restores the skin barrier: the loss of ceramides due to excessive exfoliation, aging or other causes can lead to a weakening of the skin barrier. By adding ceramides to your skincare routine, your skin's protective barrier will remain healthy and function properly.

Moisture retention: a well-functioning skin barrier also helps retain moisture within the skin and prevents evaporation (moisture loss) and dryness.

Protects against aging: ceramides also help to protect the skin from external stressors such as air pollution.  Free radicals in polluted air can lead to early signs of aging, and a strong skin barrier is important to protect the skin.

Prevents inflammation: When the skin's protective barrier doesn't work properly, skin becomes prone to problems. For example, it can quickly become dehydrated and irritated, and there will be a greater chance of inflammation in the form of acne, eczema and rosacea.

How do I use ceramides?

As with many other substances in the skin, levels of ceramides also decline as we age. This, in turn, leads to a weakening of the skin barrier, and therefore skin can become both more sensitive and drier. Therefore, introducing cosmetic products containing ceramides is not a stupid idea if you want to enjoy the good properties of this super ingredient. The ingredient is most commonly found in moisturizing creams, but is also used in serums, cleansers and toners.

Can I combine ceramides with other active ingredients?

Ceramides combine well with most ingredients. In fact, exfoliating acids (AHAs and BHAs) often work well with ceramides because the acids remove dead skin cells and thus help ceramides penetrate deeper into the skin. Also when using retinol, for example, it will be helpful to choose a moisturizer with ceramides to maintain the balance of moisture in the skin and prevent dryness.