Ceramides: The building blocks of your skin barrier.

Ceramides are a bit of an unsung hero when it comes to skincare ingredients - we hear a lot about hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinol - but ceramides are actually one of the most fundamental and underrated components of healthy, resilient skin. Let's talk about it...

What are ceramides?

Ceramides are lipid molecules (a type of fat) that our skin produces. They make up 30 - 40% of the outermost layer of the skin (the stratum corneum) and are critical to a healthy skin barrier.

What do ceramides do for the skin?

Think of ceramides as the “mortar” holding your skin cells (the “bricks”) together. Without enough mortar, the wall starts to crack, gaps can form - and in skin terms, that means dryness, irritation, flaking, and sensitivity.

Basically, ceramides are key to:

• Locking in moisture and preventing trans-epidermal water loss (aka, TEWL)

• Defending against environmental irritants like pollution, wind, and bacteria/pathogens

• Supporting the skin barrier against seasonal stressors like winter cold, dry indoor heating, low humidity and windburn

How do we become low in ceramides?

As we age, ceramide levels naturally decline because we produce less of them - but we can temporarily deplete our ceramides through things like over-exfoliating or using drying cleansers. Exposure to harsh conditions (low temperatures, low humidity) also depletes ceramides, which is why winter is a common time for this issue to arise.

How do I know if my skin is low in ceramides?

• Dryness that doesn’t improve with moisturiser

• Persistent flaking, roughness, or tightness

• Heightened sensitivity or redness

• Eczema-prone or inflamed skin

How to replenish ceramides in your skin

You can’t replace depleted ceramides through diet alone - topical application is key. Look for skincare products that contain skin-identical ceramides like Ceramide NP (3), Ceramide AP (6-II), and Ceramide EOP (1), along with supporting lipids like cholesterol and fatty acids.

These ingredients all work together to mimic the natural lipid matrix of your skin, helping to rebuild the skin barrier. A perfect product to use in this case, is the Aspect Dr Ceramide Serum - you can find it here.

Ceramides might not get as much airtime as some of the trendier ingredients - but make no mistake, they are absolutely essential.