Ceramides
Skincare ingredient, decoded — every claim sourced.
What it is
Skin-identical barrier lipids that help skin hold water and look calm and less reactive.
How it works
The outermost skin layer (stratum corneum) is built like a brick wall: flat dead cells are the "bricks" and a lipid mortar fills the gaps. By weight, ceramides make up roughly half of that mortar, with cholesterol and free fatty acids making up most of the rest (a composition often summarized as about 50% ceramides, 25% cholesterol, and 15% free fatty acids). Together they stack into ordered, water-repelling sheets (lamellae) that seal moisture in and keep irritants out. Dry-looking, sensitive, and barrier-compromised skin tends to show lower or altered ceramides, which lets water escape (higher transepidermal water loss) and makes the skin look and feel more reactive. Applying skin-identical ceramides, ideally balanced with cholesterol and fatty acids, helps refill that mortar; cosmetic studies of ceramide-containing moisturizers report measurable drops in water loss, higher hydration, and more normal skin-surface pH over hours to weeks. This is a barrier-support effect on the appearance and feel of skin, not a medical treatment.
Works well with
CholesterolFree fatty acids (e.g. linoleic/palmitic acid)Hyaluronic acidNiacinamideGlycerinRetinoids (to buffer the look of dryness)Exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA, to support the barrier afterward)
Who should take care
Ceramides suit nearly all skin types, including sensitive and barrier-compromised skin, and have a strong safety record with no regulatory restriction. There is no group that must avoid them outright, and they are considered well tolerated for routine cosmetic use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Practical notes only: if you have a known allergy to a specific finished product, patch test first; very oily or blemish-prone skin may prefer a lighter ceramide lotion or gel over a rich balm to avoid a heavy feel. If you have any concern about products during pregnancy or breastfeeding, consult a doctor.
🔒 IN THE APP
The dose that actually works — and is it right for your skin?
The concentration that actually makes a difference, and whether this fits YOUR skin profile, lives in the MHS BLOOM app.
Sources
- Man MQ, Feingold KR, Thornfeldt CR, Elias PM. Optimization of physiological lipid mixtures for barrier repair. J Invest Dermatol. 1996;106(5):1096-1101. (Equimolar ceramide:cholesterol:fatty-acid ratio allows normal barrier recovery; incomplete/unbalanced mixtures delay it; up to 3-fold increase of one lipid accelerates repair.)
- Burnett CL, et al. (CIR Expert Panel). Safety Assessment of Ceramides as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2020. (Reported use concentrations e.g. Ceramide 1A up to 0.01% in eye lotions and Ceramide 2 up to 0.2% in face/skin-care; Panel conclusion: safe in the present practices of use and concentration; no restriction limit.)
- Knox S, O'Boyle NM. Skin lipids in health and disease: A review. Chem Phys Lipids. 2021 (stratum corneum lipid composition ~50% ceramides, ~25% cholesterol, ~15% free fatty acids by weight). See also the open-access barrier-lipid composition review PMC11348431.
- Schild J, et al. The role of ceramides in skin barrier function and the importance of their correct formulation for skincare applications. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2024. (Mechanism of ceramides in the barrier and the importance of correct dissolution/formulation and lipid ratio for skincare.)
- Kono T, Miyachi Y, Kawashima M. Clinical significance of the water retention and barrier function-improving capabilities of ceramide-containing formulations: A qualitative review. J Dermatol. 2021;48(12):1807-1816. (Ceramide-containing formulations reduce TEWL, improve hydration and barrier structure.)
- Lueangarun S, Tragulplaingam P, Sugkraroek S, Tempark T. The 24-hr, 28-day, and 7-day post-moisturizing efficacy of ceramides 1, 3, 6-II containing moisturizing cream compared with hydrophilic cream on skin dryness and barrier disruption. Dermatol Ther. 2019;32(6):e13090. doi:10.1111/dth.13090. (Measured improvements in TEWL, hydration, and skin-surface pH over 24h-28 days.)
This is not medical advice at all — cosmetic information only. Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding; always consult your doctor.