Ceramides Explained: Why Your Skin Needs Them

Ceramides Explained: Why Your Skin Needs Them

By Nicole Phillips, Founder, Dermal Therapist & Nurse

If you’ve ever searched for skincare to repair your skin barrier, chances are you’ve come across the word ceramides.

But what exactly are they, and why are they found in so many products designed for sensitive or dry skin?

As a dermal therapist and nurse, I often explain ceramides to clients as the “glue” that helps hold your skin together.

What are ceramides?

Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids (fats) that make up around 50% of your skin barrier.

Think of your skin like a brick wall.

The skin cells are the bricks, while ceramides act like the mortar, helping to hold everything together and keep your barrier strong.

When your ceramide levels are healthy, your skin is better able to:

• Retain moisture
• Defend against environmental stress
• Reduce water loss
• Feel soft and comfortable

What happens when ceramides are depleted?

Ceramide levels naturally decline with age, but they can also be affected by:

• Over-cleansing
• Excessive exfoliation
• Harsh skincare products
• Environmental stress
• Cold weather
• Certain skin conditions such as eczema

As ceramides decrease, the skin barrier becomes weaker, making it easier for moisture to escape and irritants to enter.

This often leads to:

• Dryness
• Tightness
• Redness
• Sensitivity
• Flaking
• A feeling that your skin is never quite comfortable

Why I love ceramides

One of the things I appreciate most about ceramides is that they don’t force your skin to behave differently.

Instead, they help support what healthy skin is already designed to do.

Rather than correcting, stripping or stimulating the skin, ceramides work by strengthening its natural protective barrier.

That’s why they’re suitable for almost every skin type, especially sensitive, dry or compromised skin.

Should everyone use ceramides?

In my opinion, almost everyone can benefit from ceramides.

Whether your goal is healthier skin, improved hydration or simply maintaining a strong skin barrier, ceramides are one of the most valuable ingredients you can include in your routine.

They’re particularly beneficial if your skin often feels dry, tight, reactive or uncomfortable.

My philosophy

One of the reasons ceramides feature in Celulah formulations is because they support the skin rather than challenge it.

I believe great skincare doesn’t need to be complicated.

Sometimes the most effective ingredients are those that simply help your skin do what it was designed to do.

Healthy skin begins with a healthy skin barrier, and ceramides are one of the building blocks that help make that possible.

— Nicole Phillips
Founder • Dermal Therapist • Nurse