DEMYSTIFYING: CERAMIDES

If you love K-beauty, you might be familiar with ceramides already, as they're a key ingredient in a lot of Korean skincare products. But this skin-loving ingredient only recently made a name for itself elsewhere – you might not even know what ceramides are. So many brands (CeraVe, Elizabeth Arden and The INKEY List to name a few) are shouting about ceramides right now, and for good reason. We're here to tell you why. We’ve answered all your burning questions about ceramides, complete with our recommendations, and how you can add them to your current skincare routine.

Ceramides can strengthen and help maintain your skin barrier, retain hydration, prevent dryness and help shield your skin from external irritants and allergens that could cause infection. In other words, you can use them for just about anything, but locking in moisture is a key benefit. Ceramides are less of a solution and more of a preventative measure. Just think about it: if your skin retains moisture better, you’re less likely to wake up with breakouts, texture and all other byproducts of dehydrated skin. They’re a jack-of-all-trades ingredient.

Dr Jart+’s Ceramidin™ range is enriched with several ceramide types and panthenol to lock in moisture.

Ceramides have no conflicts and are safe to use in most cases (but always patch test). Most people – regardless of age and skin type – can benefit from ceramides, as they're an ingredient already found naturally in your skin. The concentration of them just decreases over time, so adding a ceramide product into your routine can help keep levels topped up. If you’re experiencing signs of a compromised skin barrier (increased sensitivity, redness and dryness), or your skin loses hydration quickly, it might be time to reach for some trusty ceramides. They’re also a winter-skin wonder – the drop in temperatures can make moisture even tougher for your skin to maintain.

You can use them in your am and pm skincare routine, as well as throughout the day to give your skin some TLC. There isn't a specific order when it comes to applying ceramides. As they're found naturally in the skin, they’re described as a skin-identical ingredient. This category of ingredients – like amino acids, cholesterol and glycerine – is often added to another product or ingredient you already use to top up your skin’s essential building blocks. So, if the first step of your skincare routine is a peptide toner, upgrading it to a peptide + ceramides toner adds an extra layer of nourishment with no effort needed.