“It’s typical, isn’t it? You work hard every single day to moisturise skin and no one pays any attention to you. None.
“Then, along come stem cells, peptides, and all those fancy new ingredients with exotic names and bam! instant limelight on them! And they don’t even work that well! SO unfair!”
Poor ceramides! They have a lot to get off their chests. For way too long, Elizabeth Arden was the only one who cared about them. Now, they’re slowly finding their way into more and more creams and lotions.
I’m super excited about ceramides. Here’s why:
What Are Ceramides?
Ceramides are unsung skincare heroes.
They’re oily waxes (“cera” means wax in Latin) that make up the glue that holds skin cells together (together with fatty acids, cholesterol etc).
There are 9 types of ceramides.They’re all conveniently numbered (ex ceramide 1, ceramide 2, etc) to make our lives easier. Six of them are naturally found in your skin. But those you’ll find in your skincare products are all made in a lab.
Then, there are phytoceramides. In nature, they’re derived from plants. In your cosmetics, they come from yeast – a lot less exciting, I know! But they work, so it’s all good.
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
Ceramides Benefits: What Do They Do For Skin?
Ceramides waterproof skin. The barrier they create has two jobs:
- It keeps moisture in, preventing skin from becoming dry and cracked
- It keeps bacteria, germs, pollutants, and all sort of nasty stuff out of the body, preventing infections and irritations
Ceramides don’t just prevent dry and cracked skin. They can heal it, too. When the barrier that keeps skin healthy breaks down in places, ceramides come along and fill in the gaps, stopping moisture from getting out and germs from getting in.
How To Make The Most Of Ceramides In Your Skincare Routine
Ceramides work. But, if you want to make the most out of them, you need to use them with their BFFs. You know, the other stuff that makes up your skin’s protective barrier.
Studies show the best combo is ceramides (50%) with cholesterol (25%) and free fatty acids (15%). They form what scientists call “crystalline lamellar structures,” which have amazing moisture-retaining properties.
What Are The Best Products With Ceramides?
- CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion ($13.99): available available at Dermstore and Walmart
- Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lift and Firm Night Cream ($60.00): available at Dermstore, Feel Unique, Harrods and Ulta
- Paula’s Choice Clinical Ultra-Rich Moisturizer ($31.00): available at Dermstore, Look Fantastic and Paula’s Choice
The Bottom Line
Ceramides are those reliable friends you always take for granted, yet are always there for you. Pay them more attention and your skin will never crack again.
My body lotion has ceramides in it. I’m not sure about any facial products, I should find out! I can’t believe I don’t know.
Janessa,ceramides are so underrated! Even the brand themselves rarely promote them so you never know if they’re in something until you look for them carefully.
Thanks for another informative article!
Vivella, my pleasure!
Awesome post! I really believe skin-identical ingredients like these help skin so much! Paula’s choice is great ‘ey, I love her formulations, they are all packed with stuff that will work!
http://www.honestyforyourskin.co.uk
Cheryl, I agree. Fancy ingredients get all the attention, but skin-identical ones do most of the work to keep our skin healthy.
I adore Paula’s Choice. It’s my favourite line. Finally a brand that uses ingredients that really work, not just those that are popular.
Wow, so glad I stumbled across this article, even if it’s old.
I have a question: What can you say about Elizabeth Arden’s Advanced Time Complex Capsules? Do they have the right ingredient concentration? Thank you so much!
Rosa, I’m a fan. Usually you don’t need that much ceramide for it to work.
Is it already in the skin care routine you recommend for dry skin? If not, how do you add it with all the other stuff – retinol, hyaluronic acid, niainimide?