What it does
Ceramides make up a large share of the lipid matrix holding your outer skin cells together. When that barrier is compromised — by over-exfoliation, harsh cleansers, cold weather, or too many actives at once — replacing those lipids topically helps it reassemble.
They are the least exciting and most useful thing in a damaged-skin routine. If your skin has started stinging when you apply products it used to tolerate, the fix is almost never another active; it is a ceramide moisturiser, a gentler cleanser, and two weeks of restraint.
They pair well with everything and are a standard part of retinoid routines specifically to offset the dryness.
In a routine
Layers well with
- Niacinamide
- Cholesterol
- Fatty acids
- Retinol
