Ceramides and Hyaluronic acid – why all the hype?
We often hear from skincare influencers how these two skincare ingredients are absolutely essential to their beauty routine. Ceramides and Hyaluronic acid are found in so many age-delay skincare formulations as well as in many targeted skincare for skin issues and depending on the product you buy, they can be affordable or quite pricey.
Let’s share some ‘skincare wisdom’ and understand why we love both Ceramides and Hyaluronic acid and why you should to!
In this article we will learn more about :
what are ceramides
what is hyaluronic acid
function and skin benefits
how to use them
CERAMIDES
Ceramides are fats or lipids that hold skin cells firmly together in the top skin layer. The waxy substance between our skin cells is called Extracellular Matrix and it consists mainly of lipids: roughly 50% are Ceramides, 25% Cholesterol and 15% Fatty acids.
There are many different types of Ceramides used in skincare and they are primarily synthetic or derived from plants. Ceramides are listed as Ceramides AP, EOP, NG, NP, of NS.
Phytosphingosine and Sphingosine are ceramide precursors (they stimulate the skin to produce more ceramide)
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate is a plant-derived alternative to Ceramides (they form lamellar crystals identical to Ceramides).
HYALURONIC ACID
Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body and is found in the skin, connective tissue and eyes. Its main and essential function is to retain water to keep your tissues well lubricated and moist.
HA is produced by fermented plant material or synthetic. It’s available in different molecular sizes or weights proportional to its ability to penetrate to different levels of the Epidermis (from 10,000 to 2,000,000 Daltons).
High molecular weight = Hyaluronic acid
Low molecular weight = Sodium Hyaluronate
Check out our article on Hyaluronic acid here.
CERAMIDES AND HYALURONIC ACID SKIN BENEFITS
They have different action mechanisms, but they both keep the skin barrier fully functioning and improve hydration retention, the very fist step for healthier, younger skin that is:
smoother
firmer
plumper
more elastic
with minimised fine lines and wrinkles
less prone to redness and irritations
Ceramides help to:
moisturise and strengthen the protective skin barrier
lock in moisture into your skin and prevent dryness and irritation
protect the skin from external aggressors (weather, pollution)
Hyaluronic acid helps to:
retain water to keep your tissues well hydrated and moist
hold water molecules onto the surface of your skin to keep it nice and hydrated up to 1000 times its molecular weight
slow TEWL = keeps the skin hydrated preventing water loss
A KEY FUNCTION: PREVENT + SOOTHE INFLAMMATION
Inflammation is unfortunately the first step towards skin ageing and a trigger for dermatitis, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, acne. Ceramides and Hyaluronic acid are gentle and well-tolerated skincare ingredients to prevent and soothe inflammation.
How do they work?
CERAMIDES: boost the skin’s barrier and strengthen the cellular structure, and calm irritated and inflamed skin.
Use it for : rosacea, allergic skin-rash, dull, sagging skin and first signs of wrinkles.
HYALURONIC ACID: it retains hydration and limits broken Elastin + Collagen atrophy; HA instructs Immune cells to respond to inflammation and allow skin repair.
Use it for: dry, dehydrated, allergic skin-rash, itchy skin lacking elasticity.
CAN I USE CERAMIDES AND HYALURONIC ACID TOGETHER?
Absolutely YES! They are a perfect combination of highly effective yet not too aggressive moisturising agents that work with all skin types and conditions.
Both Ceramides and Hyaluronic are “skin-replenishing” or skin-identical skincare ingredients; because they’re naturally a part of your skin, they can be combined in the same formulation (free from any allergens) and used every day, safely.
