Ceramides have a proven record as far as anti-aging ingredients go. They’re often overlooked and rarely explained, so here we’ll dive deep to clarify how ceramides help skin retain moisture, fortify its protective barrier, and keep its appearance firm and plump.
What Are Ceramides?
Ceramides are lipids found naturally in the uppermost layers of skin. They make up over 50% of skin’s composition and play a vital role in determining how your skin looks and responds to environmental threats.
Ceramides help hold skin together by forming a protective layer that limits moisture loss and protects against visible damage from pollution and other environmental stressors.
Age and sun damage reduce the effectiveness of your skin’s natural ceramides and can eventually deplete them, which weakens your skin’s barrier. This results in drier, rougher skin, wrinkles, irritation, redness, and visible signs of dehydration.
Benefits of Ceramides
Ceramides will help reinforce your skin’s barrier and increase hydration giving you plumper, smoother, firmer-feeling skin with fewer visible lines and wrinkles, as well as fewer signs of sensitivity.
Ceramides fall under the category of “skin-replenishing” or skin-identical ingredients. Because they’re naturally a part of your skin, ceramides are ideal for all skin types, even the most sensitive, breakout-prone, and oily skin. They’re also safe to use around the eyes, as long as the product is fragrance and irritant free.
What Ingredients Can I Use With Ceramides?
No single ingredient can do everything to combat the visible signs of aging. Be sure your ceramide-enriched product also contains antioxidants and other skin-restoring ingredients like retinol, niacinamide, linoleic acid, and peptides.
Vitamin C and ceramides pair well together in the same products because they help restore skin’s firmness and suppleness. Using a gentle leave-on AHA or BHA exfoliant will improve the effectiveness of ceramides since there won’t be any dead skin keeping vital ingredients from absorbing as they should.
What Products Contain Ceramides?
Natural ceramides are found in the skin, whereas skin care products can contain synthetic ceramides. Ceramides can be found in facial cleansers, serums and moisturizers. Moisturizers and serums can provide the most benefit since they are formulated to be left on the skin.
Plant-derived ceramides can support skin ceramides and are chemically similar. Foods that contain ceramides include wheat, rice, sweet potatoes and soybeans. Including these foods into your diet will yield faster results than topical application of ceramides.
Replenishing your skin with ceramides will help you achieve a youthful appearance without irritation. To find products that compliment your skin type, complete your skincare profile on Dermava. A licensed professional will recommend specific products for your skin type and conditions.
