What Are Ceramides?

What Is Your Skin Barrier?

The outermost layer of your skin is known as the skin barrier. Also sometimes referred to as your “skin’s moisture barrier,” it is composed of approximately 50% ceramides, 25% cholesterol, and 10-25% fatty acids.

So, why is this barrier so important to maintaining healthy skin? Your skin’s natural barrier functions as the primary gatekeeper between your skin and your external environment. “This lipid bilayer is an essential layer that contributes to the function of our skin: keeping bad things out and water in,” says Dr. Liu. In other words, your skin barrier is crucial for protecting your skin against environmental stressors and moisture loss. “It also helps to make our skin waterproof,” adds Dr. Liu.

What Are Ceramides?

According to Dr. Liu, “ceramides are essential lipids found naturally in skin and [they] play a crucial role in forming a healthy skin barrier.” They make up approximately 50% of the skin’s lipids that help form your natural skin barrier, to be exact. Composed of fatty acid and sphingosine, “ceramides are the most abundant lipid found in the top layer of skin,” says Dr. Liu.

What Do Ceramides Do For Your Skin?

Ceramides are like the glue that holds your skin cells together —like mortar is to bricks, with the bricks being your skin cells. Like we just learned above, they help keep your skin barrier balanced and intact—sealing moisture in and keeping harmful irritants out. Your skin naturally contains ceramides to help improvethe skin barrier, however, certain factors—such as sun damage and the natural aging process—can deplete your skin’s ceramides over time.

When the skin barrier becomes compromised (and deficient in ceramides) it can result in dry, dull, irritated, or cracked skin. “When there’s deficiency, water evaporates from skin, known as transepidermal water loss, leading to dry skin,” says Dr. Liu. This may play a role in a number of skin concerns and conditions over time—including eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, and more. Research also shows that a weakened skin barrier may be associated with acne.¹

Choosing the right skincare products can help support the balance of ceramides and optimal barrier function for more comfortable, healthy-looking skin.

What Are the Benefits of Ceramides?

Ceramides have a number of benefits for promoting healthy-looking skin when used as part of a consistent skincare regimen. Dr. Liu recommends using skincare products formulated with ceramides, such as moisturizers or serums, because that they’re great for “helping to repair dry and irritated skin by replenishing ceramide levels in our skin barrier.”

To learn more, let’s break down the key reasons why including ceramides in your skincare routine can be highly beneficial for supporting a strong skin barrier in all types of skin.

Which Skin Types Should Use Ceramides?

When we asked Dr. Liu who can most benefit from including ceramides in their skincare routine, she replied: “Everyone! But especially those with dry, sensitive, and irritated skin.”

This is because, “when ceramide levels are reduced, it can lead to dry and irritated skin,” says Dr. Liu. So, while all skin types can benefit from including ceramides in their daily routine, these certain types may benefit most.

For example, studies have shown that people with eczema and psoriasis have fewer ceramides in their skin.² Additionally, dry skin and acne-prone skin have also been associated with lower levels of ceramides. Individuals with mature skin may also be at higher risk for ceramide deficiency since ceramide levels naturally decrease with age.

Why CeraVe Ceramides?

It’s important to always seek out products that contain ceramides that are identical to those found in your skin, as research has found that these may help effectively address various skin conditions.¹ CeraVe is the first and only brand to offer a unique blend of three essential ceramides (1, 3, and 6-II) in all of their skincare products that are skin-identical and carefully selected by dermatologists to lock in moisture and help restore your skin’s protective barrier.

What makes CeraVe’s ceramides so powerful is our Multivesicular Emulsion (MVE) technology, which encapsulates ceramides to ensure efficient delivery within the skin’s barrier, and slow release over time. It helps support your protective skin barrier, long after you’ve finished applying.

Can I Use Ceramides With Other Types of Skincare Products?

Although ceramides can be found in a wide variety of skincare solutions, the type of product you choose will largely depend on your skin’s needs and your goals. Here are a few of our recommendations to take into account when incorporating ceramides into your routine.

How Will I Know if My Skincare Products Contain Ceramides?

When searching for skincare products containing ceramides, it’s important to read the label closely and always follow the application instructions. Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe products always contain scientifically-identified essential ceramides to support keeping your skin protected.

CeraVe’s ceramide formulas are enhanced with a revolutionary delivery system—MultiVesicular Emulsion Technology (MVE)—to effectively help restore the skin’s protective barrier. This technology gradually releases our three essential ceramides, allowing them to absorb into your skin over time—repairing and restoring the skin’s natural barrier long after you apply them (up to 24 hours post-application).

To discover more of CeraVe’s top-recommended products containing ceramides, check out this guide to choosing the ideal cleanser for your skin type.