If you’ve been paying close attention to what’s in your skin care products, then you’ve probably noticed that ceramides are often listed as one of the main ingredients found in your favorite moisturizers, body lotions, serums and cleansers. But what exactly are ceramides and how do these skin care heroes save your skin one concern at a time?

What Are Ceramides

Naturally found in high concentrations in the outermost layer of the skin, ceramides are waxy lipids or fats that form a part of the skin barrier. “They make up over 50 percent of the skin’s oil composition. Ceramides are composed of sphingosine and fatty acid. They are found in high concentration in cell membranes, as part of the lipid bilayer. In the skin, ceramides are some of the fatty component of sebum or skin oils that we secrete,” explains California board-certified dermatologist Anna Guanche, founder of Bella Skin Institute.

How Ceramides Benefit Skin

As the skin’s natural moisturizer, ceramides aid in preserving the skin by creating a protective layer that helps prevent the loss of moisture and shields the skin from environmental aggressors. They play an essential role in keeping dryness, dehydration and premature signs of aging at bay. “Ceramides act as linkers between epidermal skin cells—akin to the cement between bricks in a wall—to help seal up the skin barrier, to protect the deeper layers and to prevent moisture loss,” explains board-certified dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse. Read more

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