Rufus R. Noble When it comes to ingredients for skincare related to skincare, ceramides are among the top enemies in fighting dry skin, which, amid colder weather, rearing its head, is something you’re familiar with. Ceramide-based skin care products aren’t just a favorite by dermatologists but are accessible at all price points, including pharmacies (The Inkey List and Byoma) to high-end manufacturers (Drunk Elephant and SkinCeuticals).
“Ceramides are fatty acids in the skin that help to maintain the skin barrier and retain moisture and hydration,” Shereene Idriss, MD, a dermatologist board-certified within New York City, tells Allure. “Extreme cold-weather temperatures, exposure to hot water, and dry heat can all deplete the ceramides stored in your skin,” which is why it’s essential. Idriss says it’s critical to start using products with ceramides that retain moisture and improve the face’s protective function. They’re also a crucial ingredient to be on the lookout for when dealing with skin issues such as acne and moisturizing your face following treatment. Laser treatment.
It’s helpful to consider Ceramides as the essential building components for your face. They also have hydrating properties, particularlyr keeping long-term moisture and strengthening the skin’s barrier against environmental stresses. When you’re looking through the ingredient list, check for the ceramides NP, EOP, AP NG, NP, NS, phytosphingosine, and sphingosine.
“Ceramides are found in high concentrations within cell membranes,” a dermatologist who is board-certified in NYC Ellen Marmur, MD, says. “They hold skin cells together on the top layer of the skin, forming a protective layer that plumps the skin and retains moisture.” This is why barrier-building products are as well-known and widely used as ever.
In that regard, Here are the 15 best Ceramide products, including high in moisturizing products, retinol-spiked serum, and much more to help maintain healthy skin this time of year (and all year long).
Do you want to feel more confident looking over your cosmetics Ingredient labels? Enter the Allure Ingredient Index. In this thorough guide, you’ll discover everything you should know: the most sought-after (and hidden) ingredients in your most loved skincare products.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Anti-Inflammatory Serum: Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum,
- Korean Skincare Staple: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream, $48
- Boosts Ceramide Production: Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream, $64
- Thick and Derm-Approved: Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, $150
- For a Mild Dose of Exfoliation, Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum, $22
- Best Retinol Cream: Paula’s Choice Ceramide-Enriched Firming Moisturizer, $63
- Best Fragrance-Free Night Cream: EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer, $41
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- A former Allure editor, Marci Robin, was amazed by how the Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum reduced the redness and calmed her skin, which was irritated. A potent mix of five ceramides can mimic the skin barrier, helping to keep moisture levels and prevent water loss. At the same time, other soothing ingredients such as rice milk, avocado, and allantoin perform vital (and hydrating) support roles. In addition, the anti-inflammatory niacinamide and turmeric can help improve your skin tone through regular usage.
- Dryness is something else, but redness is a completely different animal. This is the place where Dermalogica’s Stabilizing Repair Cream steps in. The cushiony moisturizer is an eminent ceramide-building component to help support the natural production of ceramides in your skin levels, but there’s a lot more goodness. A range of soothing ingredients that include but are not only plants that revive, Tasmania the lanceolate and boerhavia diffuser, all work to soothe skin and create an unrelieved, non-redness skin.
