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No matter your beauty goals, achieving healthy, balanced skin is always ideal. And right now, the skin-care market is looking to ceramides for skin as the go-to ingredient. “Consumers continue to invest in beauty as we’ve adjusted to a new normal, and we’re seeing a focus on conscious and at-home beauty treatments,” said Jen Coccaro, vice president of Whole Body merchandising at Whole Foods Market, in a news release. (The retailer was ahead of the curve; its Trend Council named it a trending ingredient to watch out for in 2022.) The focus on conscious beauty ushers a renewed interest in what comprises the products in our routines.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Alexis Stephens says that the increased interest in the ingredient stems from social media “as the public has grown more interested in skin-care ingredients,” she tells Vogue. “Viral videos have made easily accessible brands like CeraVe mainstream, whose center and star ingredient is indeed ceramide.”
Here, experts walk us through how ceramides are beneficial to the skin, along with the best ways to incorporate them into your ever-evolving regimen.
Best Ceramide Skin-Care Products
- Best Face Cream: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, $150
- Best Drugstore: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, $20
- Best Face Mask: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Mask, $9
- Best Face Oil: Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster, $39
- Best Serum: Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum, $45
- Best Eye Cream: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lift and Firm Eye Cream, $72
Ceramide Benefits for Skin
“Ceramides are very important lipids that are naturally found within our body, [which] help to maintain the integrity of the skin barrier and hold hydration in the skin,” says Stephens, explaining that as we age, the fatty acid levels in our skin reduce over time. That’s why, she says, ceramide-infused products are key to aging gracefully because they “help to keep the skin looking healthy, firm, and plump by minimizing the appearance of fine lines.”
According to New York City–based dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach, they have become a powerhouse ingredient for people with dry, itchy skin. “We know that ceramides are a missing component in people that have eczema, or clinically dry skin,” she says. “Putting on moisturizer with ceramides greatly helps restore the outer layer of the skin.” Stephens, however, emphasizes that the ingredient can be beneficial for any and everyone—as they “are a crucial component to healthy, hydrated skin.” For what its worth, there are 12 different types of ceramides, often numbered one to 12, or listed on your skin-care products with a certain acronym like “ceramide EOP” or “ceramide NP.” Generally speaking, using any of the different types will prove beneficial for your skin.
How to Incorporate Ceramides
“This is one of the few times when you can see a product start to work immediately since hydration begins right after application,” she says. And so, once you start using a product with ceramides, expect to see results anywhere from right after application to the next day.
Generally speaking, Stephens explains that ceramides can be incorporated at any part of your routine, but being featured in moisturizers is key: “It can provide great benefit when used in a moisturizer, especially at nighttime, when it’s most important for the skin to repair and maintain hydration.” Read on to discover the best ceramide-powered products to consider.
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
- Why We Love It: Those hoping to treat signs of aging should consider the SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2—a cream packed with not only ceramides, but cholesterol and fatty acids to enhance skin’s suppleness and texture. Recommended by dermatologists, expect this to restore the skin barrier and help it repair itself over time. Its a cream we’ll certainly be reaching for well into winter.
- Key Ingredients: Two ceramides (EOS and NP), cholesterol, fatty acids, essential oils (lavender, rosemary, and peppermint)
Chanel N°1 de Chanel Rich Revitalizing Cream
- Why We Love It: Someone with really dry skin would appreciate the N°1 de Chanel rich cream. While red camellia extract and oil lead the formula, ceramides are featured, too, to keep skin plump, glowing, and hydrated. Massaging on the cushy, velvety texture instantly relieves the uncomfortable tightness associated with dry skin; when paired with a hydrating serum, the skin feels good as ever.
- Key Ingredients: Red camellia (extract, oil, and water), ceramide NP, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, glycerin
Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Lift and Firm Eye Cream
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- Why We Love It: Your gaze deserves the ceramide treatment, too—something made simple by Elizabeth Arden’s Ceramide Lift and Firm eye cream. The elixir pairs ceramides and advanced extracts to visibly hydrate, lift, and firm the delicate eye area with consistent use. Even better: it boasts a silky texture that instantly revitalizes the under-eye.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides (AP, EOP, and NP), tetrapeptides, and edelweiss extract
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
- Why We Love It: CeraVe’s formula is a TikTok favorite for reliable, affordable daily hydration—and has earned Rabach’s stamp of approval. Its one of those face creams that you could never go wrong with. Because it’s so gentle and conditioning, anyone could reap its benefits without worry of irritation. Stock it in your vanity, or pick up a small tub for travel.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides (NP, AP, and EOP), glycerin, and cholesterol
Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum
- Why We Love It: Cocokind’s serum combines the superstar ingredient with lipids and lactic acid to reduce signs of irritation and improve softness. Optimal skin barrier repair is what this is after—making it great for soothing and nourishing stressed skin, while keeping your complexion hydrated as ever.
- Key Ingredients: A blend of five ceramides (NP, NS, AP, EOS, and EOP), beta glucan, and lipids (fatty acids, cholesterol, and squalane)
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Mask
- Why We Love It: This Dr. Jart+’s product proves that ceramides can be delivered to the skin even in your weekly face masking session. Think of this as a savior to dry, tight, flaky skin; it drenches skin in hydration after 15 to 20 minutes wear to reveal a softer, smoother, plumper complexion.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramide NP, panthenol, glycerin, botanical oils (olive, geranium, bergamot, and sage)
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum
- Why We Love It: Beyond moisturizers, add a ceramide-infused serum to your beauty cabinet for added hydration. Glow Recipe’s Redness Relief Serum boasts a cocktail of ceramides, allantoin, as well as avocado butter and extracts to soothe skin with ease. Reducing redness and dehydration are the expected benefits of lathering on its milky texture each day—making it a thoughtful addition to any sensitive skin-care regimen.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides (NP, NS, AP, EOP, and EOS), allantoin, rice milk, avocado butter and extract
Rhode Glazing Milk
- Why We Love It: Toners and essences are the secret to maintaining a hydrated, glowing visage. With Hailey Bieber’s recently-launched Glazing Milk, anyone can achieve her enviable glazed donut skin. Post-cleanser, pre-serum dose skin with this weightless liquid for a calming, moisture boost, and barrier repair. We especially love pairing it with exfoliating and resurfacing treatments like tretinoin, retinol, and AHAs.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides (NP, AP, and EOP), beta glucan, hyaluronic acid, magnesium, zinc, and copper
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Facial Moisturizer With SPF
- Why We Love It: Summer might be over, but that doesn’t mean you should stop wearing sunscreen. As temperatures decrease, we’re reaching for richer SPFs like La Roche-Posay’s beloved Toleriane formula, which delivers adequate UV protection by protects, moisturizes, and soothes skin through a blend of thermal spring water, ceramide, and niacinamide.
- Key Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 5%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 7%, ceramide NP, niacinamide, glycerin, silica, dimethicone, and La Roche-Posay Prebiotic thermal spring water
Paula’s Choice Moisture Renewal Oil Booster
- Why We Love It: Consider face oils the secret to sealing in hydration for a more luminous complexion. “If you have a moisturizer that you already love but want the additional benefit of ceramides, consider adding a drop of oil to the end of your regimen,” says Stephens. This Paula’s Choice booster would be our first choice, thanks to its blend of nine essential oils plus ceramide.
- Key Ingredients: Botanical oils (borage, echium plantagineum, evening primrose, jojoba, cranberry seed, sunflower seed, safflower seed, apricot kernel), ceramide NS, and cholesterol
Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer
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- Why We Love It: Farmacy’s Honey Halo offers clean, cruelty-free nourishment to lock in moisture for glowing skin. Another TikTok-darling on our list, this is exceptionally hydrating without weighing skin down. With consistent use, skin appears brighter and fine lines look smoother. What’s more, Honey Halo is gentle enough for day or night.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramide NP, buckwheat honey, royal jelly extract, fig fruit extract, osmolytes, and panthenol
What Should Ceramides Be Paired With for Maximal Results?
As you craft your entire routine, it’s important to think about what ingredients might work in tandem with ceramides without exacerbating skin conditions. “Ceramides can be paired with hyaluronic acid, which is more of a humectant (meaning it pulls moisture in), or niacinamide or glycerin,” says Rabach.
To incorporate the skin brightening and hyperpigmentation-reducing prowess of niacinamide, layer your moisturizer atop the Pause Detox Serum or SkinMedica’s Lytera 2.0. Both look to target skin texture and balance, while Pause’s serum will clear pores and combat stubborn blemishes. Furthermore, look to ceramides as a soothing supplement to an exfoliation regimen. “Ceramides work great to minimize irritation, so pairing it with a stronger active ingredient like retinol or AHA exfoliants like lactic acid allows for the maximum benefit of both ingredients.” Whether it’s SkinCeuticals’s Retinol 0.3 or Sunday Riley’s lactic acid treatment, your skin will thank you.
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Meet The Experts
- Dr. Morgan Rabach is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Assistant professor of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine.
- Dr. Alexis Stephens is a board-certified dermatologist founder at Parkland Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in Coral Springs, Florida