Skincare ingredient names are thrown about all the time, so it’s hard to keep up and what's worth investing in. The beauty industry's latest obsession is ceramides; editor Trudi Brewer shares why they work and your skin needs them - am and pm.
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What are ceramides?
According to experts, we need this ingredient in our daily skincare routine to keep skin looking and feeling its best. Dermatologist Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin says, "The skin cells are essentially the brick, and the lipids or fats in between, are the mortar. Like how a stack of bricks wouldn't be as effective without the mortar sealing everything in place, neither are your skin cells without ceramides, says Levin. According to Levin, you lose ceramides from your 30s, so adding them into your skincare routine as you age is an ideal way to keep your skin looking firm and radiant. To keep your skin smooth while looking and feeling its best, add products with ceramides to your skincare routine - stat.
How do ceramides benefit the skin?
Whether due to ageing, the overuse of exfoliants and harsh soaps that strip the complexion of its natural oils, replenishing the skin with ceramides keeps the skin's barrier healthy and functioning well. Ceramides also play nice with other anti-ageing skin ingredients such as skin-brightening vitamin C, complexion rejuvenation glycolic acid, and retinol, which help mitigate the irritation these active ingredients can cause. Don't forget cramming your diet with ceramide-boosting foods also helps. These include wheat germ oil, sweet potatoes, eggs, and brown rice, which can naturally boost the skin's ability to produce ceramides.
Here’s the skincare stacked with ceramides found at Life Pharmacy
AVÈNE CICALFATE+ REPAIRING PROTECTIVE CREAM, $28.
If your skin is eczema-prone, dry and itchy, this is the cream to invest in this winter. Its soothing, healing effect is immediate, thanks to an innovative postbiotic repairing ingredient, C+ found in the soothing Avène thermal spring water, along with ceramides, copper sulfate and zinc sulfate. This cream is also preservative and fragrance-free.
Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum, 30 capsules, $90.
Elizabeth Arden pioneered ceramides in skin products in the early 1990s and keeps delivering clever innovations. The latest capsules with the gold standard in anti-ageing ingredients, retinol, with moisture-boosting ceramides. Together each capsule helps visibly diminish the look of fine lines and brown spots while nourishing dry skin at the same time. The best news is you can use these both morning and night.
Dermalogica Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist, $83.
This mist contains four types of nourishing hyaluronic acid with ceramide and antioxidant-rich calming rose water stacked with polyphenols and flavonoids to prevent that feeling of dry, tight skin post-cleansing. It’s a simple step toward refreshing and hydrating dehydrated, irritated skin.
Trilogy Vitamin C Ceramide Night Cream, $59.
Plant-based ceramide III, identical to the lipids in the skin, along with hyaluronic acid and the potent antioxidant vitamin C, helps to brighten and nourish the skin. Along with the heavy-hitting Kakadu plum (aka SuperOx-C) extract, this cream will help smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while you sleep.
Natio Treatments Skin Renewal Ceramide Line & Wrinkle Cream, $25.
This cream is stacked with moisturising hyaluronic acid, ceramides and omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids from olive, sunflower seed, and argan oils. At the same time, the sweet orange, rosewood, lavender, lemon, and rose to give it a gorgeous scent.
Ideal for Christmas gifting.