Ingredient Lab
The brightening ingredient everyone’s finally talking about
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Whether we realise it or not, we put our skin through a lot on a daily basis, be it environmental stressors, late nights, long flights or erratic bouts of 12-step selfcare routines to overcompensate for it all. But no amount of enthusiasm (or even the latest viral product promising overnight transformation) can miraculously fix a damaged skin barrier. What it really needs is genuine, lasting repair. And the most effective way to do it is by replenishing its ceramides. If you’ve heard this buzzy ingredient in every beauty conversation but aren’t entirely sure what it does, here’s everything you need to know about ceramides and why they matter.
The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum does more than just hydrate—it calms irritated skin and strengthens the barrier over time. This lightweight yet powerful serum is infused with Vitamin B12 and niacinamide to deeply moisturise and support overall skin health. With three types of gallic acid derivatives, it delivers targeted relief for dryness and uneven texture. Whether your skin is stressed or in need of extra nourishment, this serum ensures a balanced, restorative approach.
Before we talk about the best ceramide serums you should add to your cart, it’s important to understand what they do. Ceramides are lipids or fats that naturally occur in your skin’s outermost layer. Think of them as the glue holding your skin cells together, keeping the barrier strong and the surface smooth. When ceramides are in balance, your skin feels soft, supple and resilient. It’s when they’re depleted that you start experiencing dryness, itchiness, irritation and dullness.
Age, weather, pollution, stress, harsh cleansers and over-exfoliation can all chip away the natural ceramides present in your skin’s barrier. Which is why topping them up with moisturisers and serums rich in ceramides is less of a luxury and more of a necessity. One of the key ceramide benefits for skin is that these lipids strengthen your outermost layer, making it harder for pollutants and irritants to sneak through. They also help lock in moisture, keeping your skin hydrated, smoother and far less reactive.
While ceramides suit most skin types, they’re especially crucial for those struggling with dryness, sensitivity or eczema-prone skin. They also become more important with age, as the skin’s natural ceramide production starts to decline.
You’ve probably seen ceramide-rich moisturisers before and, yes, they’re great. But here’s why ceramide face serums deserve a little more love: they come in a concentrated formula that sinks in deeper, faster and packs an extra dose of hydration. When used consistently, ceramide serums not only soothe inflamed skin, but also help in rebuilding your skin’s structure from within, improving how it retains moisture and responds to active ingredients.
Ceramide serums are fairly simple to incorporate into your existing skincare routine. You can use them once or twice a day, depending on how dry or sensitive your skin feels. They’re lightweight enough for mornings and soothing enough for nights, so you can’t really go wrong. Consistency, however, is key in order to see visible results.
As far as layering goes, you can apply your ceramide serum right after cleansing. If you use a hydrating toner or essence, it can be applied after that. Follow it up with your usual moisturiser to seal everything in and finish with sunscreen if it’s daytime. And if your skincare regimen includes actives like exfoliating acids or retinol, layer your ceramide serum immediately after those steps to help minimise potential irritation. It’s also a good idea to skip the actives altogether and let ceramides take the lead on days when your skin is feeling particularly stressed.
Decoding the ingredients list of skincare products, to choose what works for you, can feel overwhelming. But knowing what to look for makes all the difference. Start with the basics—the best ceramide serums usually include a mix of different types of ceramides (you’ll often see names like Ceramide NP, AP, EOP or NS). These work together to rebuild your skin barrier more effectively than just one would on its own. Look for supporting ingredients that help ceramides do their job, like fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and niacinamide.
At its core, skincare isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters, which is why adding ceramides to your beauty routine is a small step that makes a lasting difference in how your skin feels and functions.
Before we talk about the best ceramide serums you should add to your cart, it’s important to understand what they do. Ceramides are lipids or fats that naturally occur in your skin’s outermost layer. Think of them as the glue holding your skin cells together, keeping the barrier strong and the surface smooth. When ceramides are in balance, your skin feels soft, supple and resilient. It’s when they’re depleted that you start experiencing dryness, itchiness, irritation and dullness.
Age, weather, pollution, stress, harsh cleansers and over-exfoliation can all chip away the natural ceramides present in your skin’s barrier. Which is why topping them up with moisturisers and serums rich in ceramides is less of a luxury and more of a necessity. One of the key ceramide benefits for skin is that these lipids strengthen your outermost layer, making it harder for pollutants and irritants to sneak through. They also help lock in moisture, keeping your skin hydrated, smoother and far less reactive.
While ceramides suit most skin types, they’re especially crucial for those struggling with dryness, sensitivity or eczema-prone skin. They also become more important with age, as the skin’s natural ceramide production starts to decline.
You’ve probably seen ceramide-rich moisturisers before and, yes, they’re great. But here’s why ceramide face serums deserve a little more love: they come in a concentrated formula that sinks in deeper, faster and packs an extra dose of hydration. When used consistently, ceramide serums not only soothe inflamed skin, but also help in rebuilding your skin’s structure from within, improving how it retains moisture and responds to active ingredients.
Ceramide serums are fairly simple to incorporate into your existing skincare routine. You can use them once or twice a day, depending on how dry or sensitive your skin feels. They’re lightweight enough for mornings and soothing enough for nights, so you can’t really go wrong. Consistency, however, is key in order to see visible results.
As far as layering goes, you can apply your ceramide serum right after cleansing. If you use a hydrating toner or essence, it can be applied after that. Follow it up with your usual moisturiser to seal everything in and finish with sunscreen if it’s daytime. And if your skincare regimen includes actives like exfoliating acids or retinol, layer your ceramide serum immediately after those steps to help minimise potential irritation. It’s also a good idea to skip the actives altogether and let ceramides take the lead on days when your skin is feeling particularly stressed.
Decoding the ingredients list of skincare products, to choose what works for you, can feel overwhelming. But knowing what to look for makes all the difference. Start with the basics—the best ceramide serums usually include a mix of different types of ceramides (you’ll often see names like Ceramide NP, AP, EOP or NS). These work together to rebuild your skin barrier more effectively than just one would on its own. Look for supporting ingredients that help ceramides do their job, like fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and niacinamide.
At its core, skincare isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters, which is why adding ceramides to your beauty routine is a small step that makes a lasting difference in how your skin feels and functions.
Before we talk about the best ceramide serums you should add to your cart, it’s important to understand what they do. Ceramides are lipids or fats that naturally occur in your skin’s outermost layer. Think of them as the glue holding your skin cells together, keeping the barrier strong and the surface smooth. When ceramides are in balance, your skin feels soft, supple and resilient. It’s when they’re depleted that you start experiencing dryness, itchiness, irritation and dullness.
Age, weather, pollution, stress, harsh cleansers and over-exfoliation can all chip away the natural ceramides present in your skin’s barrier. Which is why topping them up with moisturisers and serums rich in ceramides is less of a luxury and more of a necessity. One of the key ceramide benefits for skin is that these lipids strengthen your outermost layer, making it harder for pollutants and irritants to sneak through. They also help lock in moisture, keeping your skin hydrated, smoother and far less reactive.
While ceramides suit most skin types, they’re especially crucial for those struggling with dryness, sensitivity or eczema-prone skin. They also become more important with age, as the skin’s natural ceramide production starts to decline.
You’ve probably seen ceramide-rich moisturisers before and, yes, they’re great. But here’s why ceramide face serums deserve a little more love: they come in a concentrated formula that sinks in deeper, faster and packs an extra dose of hydration. When used consistently, ceramide serums not only soothe inflamed skin, but also help in rebuilding your skin’s structure from within, improving how it retains moisture and responds to active ingredients.
Ceramide serums are fairly simple to incorporate into your existing skincare routine. You can use them once or twice a day, depending on how dry or sensitive your skin feels. They’re lightweight enough for mornings and soothing enough for nights, so you can’t really go wrong. Consistency, however, is key in order to see visible results.
As far as layering goes, you can apply your ceramide serum right after cleansing. If you use a hydrating toner or essence, it can be applied after that. Follow it up with your usual moisturiser to seal everything in and finish with sunscreen if it’s daytime. And if your skincare regimen includes actives like exfoliating acids or retinol, layer your ceramide serum immediately after those steps to help minimise potential irritation. It’s also a good idea to skip the actives altogether and let ceramides take the lead on days when your skin is feeling particularly stressed.
Decoding the ingredients list of skincare products, to choose what works for you, can feel overwhelming. But knowing what to look for makes all the difference. Start with the basics—the best ceramide serums usually include a mix of different types of ceramides (you’ll often see names like Ceramide NP, AP, EOP or NS). These work together to rebuild your skin barrier more effectively than just one would on its own. Look for supporting ingredients that help ceramides do their job, like fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and niacinamide.
At its core, skincare isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters, which is why adding ceramides to your beauty routine is a small step that makes a lasting difference in how your skin feels and functions.
