Ceramides Explained: What They Do for Your Skin

Ceramides now appear on the front of many moisturisers, and for good reason. They are one of the building blocks of your skin barrier, the layer that keeps water in and irritants out. Here is what they are, what they do, and how to get the most from a ceramide cream.

The science: Ceramides are lipids (fats) that your skin makes itself. In its outermost layer, skin cells sit like bricks in a wall, held together by a lipid “mortar”. Roughly half of that mortar is ceramides; most of the rest is cholesterol and fatty acids.

Your skin uses many kinds of ceramides. On ingredient labels you will see names such as ceramide NP, AP, EOP, NS or AS. Those used in skincare are usually made in the lab to match the ones in your skin, which is why they are often called skin-identical.

• Hold water in: they help slow the water your skin loses to the air
• Keep irritants out: a well-sealed barrier lets less pollution and fewer irritants through
• Softness: skin with enough lipids feels smoother and less tight
• Comfort: dry, sensitive skin usually feels calmer when its barrier is well supplied

• Age: skin makes fewer ceramides as we get older
• Harsh cleansing: strong, very foamy face washes and frequent washing strip lipids away
• Over-exfoliating: daily scrubs, peels and too many acids wear the barrier down
• Dry air: air-conditioned rooms and dry North Indian winters pull water from the skin faster than it can be replaced
• Sun: UV exposure weakens the barrier over time
• Some skin conditions: very dry and eczema-prone skin is often low in ceramides; if you think you have eczema, see a dermatologist

Your barrier is not made of ceramides alone, and research on barrier care suggests lipids work best together, in a balance close to the skin’s own. That is why a well-made barrier cream pairs ceramides with cholesterol and other skin-friendly lipids.

Barrier Repair Cream follows that idea: five ceramides with cholesterol, lipids naturally found in the skin barrier, plus squalane, which is similar to an oil your skin makes itself, and madecassoside from centella asiatica to help soothe visible redness. Together they help replenish moisture and support the skin’s natural protective barrier.

• Dry skin: the most obvious match: it is short on lipids to begin with
• Sensitive skin: a stronger barrier lets fewer irritants through
• Oily and acne-prone skin: oily skin can still lack water, and drying acne products leave skin tight; a thin layer of a ceramide cream helps it feel comfortable
• Combination skin: a thin layer on the T-zone, a little more on the cheeks
• Everyone in AC or winter: dry air affects every skin type; see our winter routine for dry skin

When: Morning and night, as the last step of your routine before sunscreen.

How much: About a pea-sized amount for the whole face. Use less in humid summers and more in dry winters.

What goes underneath: Ceramides seal in; humectants such as hyaluronic acid draw water in. Apply a hydrating serum like Calming Serum on damp skin first, then the cream on top to hold that water in.

With actives: Ceramides pair well with niacinamide, vitamin C and retinol. If retinol or acids leave your skin dry, a ceramide cream afterwards can help it stay comfortable.

• Check the ingredient list: look for ceramide names (ceramide NP, AP, EOP and so on), ideally alongside cholesterol
• Pick a texture for your weather: a lighter cream for humid cities, a richer layer for dry winters
• Look at the whole formula: soothing ingredients such as centella or panthenol help sensitive skin
• Patch-test: try any new product on your jawline for a few days first

• Pores: ceramides themselves are not known to clog pores, but the whole formula matters, so patch-test if you are acne-prone
• Every day: ceramides suit daily use, morning and night, all year round
• Timing: many people feel softer, more comfortable skin within days; give it four weeks before judging