Roughly half of healthy skin's outer layer is made up of ceramides, naturally occurring lipid chains that sit between skin cells and act as a protective barrier. That barrier is what keeps moisture locked in and pollution and other environmental stressors locked out. Unfortunately, ceramide levels drop with age and other factors, which leaves skin more vulnerable to irritation and a range of other concerns.
Skincare formulas replenish ceramides using either plant derived sources or bio identical synthetic versions, and both work well in a properly formulated product. Their defining strength is water retention, which is why ceramides show up so often in products meant to hydrate, replenish, and restore skin, while also strengthening the barrier and improving elasticity.
Ceramides References
International Journal of Toxicology, 2020, pages 5S-25S | Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, October 2014, pages 2473-2483 | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, July 2014, pages 177-184 | Journal of Lipid Research, July 2008, pages 1,466-1,476 | Journal of Lipid Research, September 2007, pages 1936-1943 | American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, Volume 4, 2003, pages 107-129 | Journal of Investigative Dermatology, November 2001, pages 1,126-1,136 | Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, September-October 2001, pages 261-271
Our team reviews ingredient research and uses up-to-date evidence to rate ingredients based on the categories below.
Best
Ingredients with the most rigorous and convincing evidence. These are the standouts backed by consistent findings across independent, peer reviewed clinical research.. When we call an ingredient Best, it has earned that distinction through genuine, reproducible proof that it improves skin.
Good
Reliable, well tolerated ingredients that do their job without complaint. They may not carry the headline benefits of a Best rated active, but they hydrate, stabilize a formula, or support the ingredients around them in ways that make a real difference in how a product performs and feels.
Average
Ingredients that are perfectly safe and serve a clear function, typically as an emollient, thickener, or filler, but do not offer any meaningful skin benefit beyond that basic job. Not a red flag, just not a reason to choose one product over another.
Bad/Worst
Ingredients with documented potential to irritate skin, disrupt the barrier, or trigger sensitization in some users, often synthetic fragrance, drying forms of alcohol, or certain essential oils. Not automatically a dealbreaker for every skin type, but worth knowing about before you commit to a product.
