By: Alanna Tran, Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientist of BiotechBeauty®

Ceramides aren't the newest ingredient on the scene—we've seen them in drugstore staples such as CeraVe since the early 2000's. But, what exactly do they do, and why are they still loved by the hottest, most cutting edge beauty brands? Today, we'll uncover all that and more: welcome to Ceramides 101.  

Ceramides are lipids that comprise up to 50% of our skin's epidermis, helping to keep our moisture barrier intact and to maintain healthy hydration levels.

When our epidermis is fortified with naturally occurring or supplemental ceramides, we experience plump, hydrated skin that's more resilient toward external stressors and dehydration. Ceramides are soothing and restorative for dry skin types and are beneficial for oily complexions, as they play a key role in deeply hydrating so the skin doesn't resort to overproducing oil.

Clearly, they're a star for achieving our hydration, anti-aging, and clear complexion goals.

Ingredients to look for on product labels include:

• Ceramide 1/Ceramide EOS
• Ceramide 2/Ceramide NS/Ceramide NG
• Ceramide 3/Ceramide NP, Ceramide 6-II/Ceramide AP
• Ceramide 9/Ceramide EOP
• Phytosphingosine
• Sphingosine

Here are a few ways you can incorporate these ingredients into your routine:

• Cleansers: Shop for ceramide-rich face washes that cleanse without stripping away natural oils. Gentle, non-lathering formulas are best for those of us with dry, irritable skin.
  • One of our faves is the Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser.

• Serums and Moisturizers: Ceramide treatments and moisturizers deliver a rich boost of hydration and barrier support. For optimal absorption, apply after cleansing and toning (using a balancing toner, not a harsh astringent)!
  • Try the Sunday Riley ICE Ceramide Moisturizer with Vitamin F, which contains a potent blend of multiple ceramides.
• Body Care: Replenish your skin after each shower with a ceramide-infused body lotion. This is especially important for those of us with dull, dry, and compromised skin, as ceramides will soothe irritating conditions such as flakiness, eczema, and psoriasis.
  • We're obsessed with the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Body Lotion.
• Makeup: Repairing your skin shouldn't stop with skincare!
  • Look for makeup formulas that include clinically-effective levels of Ceramides, such as any of BiotechBeauty®'s products. That way, you'll be improving your skin rather than damaging it with your makeup all day.

Ceramides in cosmetics can be natural or man-made—the biotech-derived versions are more stable and pure. BiotechBeauty® only uses vegan and cruelty-free Ceramides, so there's no tradeoff between doing good for your skin and for the planet.

Hope you enjoyed this deep dive into the hydration helpers that power all of our makeup formulas. Stay tuned to our Socials for more!

 

XO,