Ceramide: This is the slow-aging miracle weapon

Ceramides
The slow-aging magic bullet

It is and remains unmanageable – the jungle of products and ingredients is only getting bigger. Because even if it says “anti-aging”, it can also have “no cooking effect”. No more false promises! Are ceramides of the Slow aging ingredient and that’s proven too.

What are ceramides anyway?

Ceramides are the it-piece of your skin – everyone has, needs and wants them! They are natural components of our top layer of skin. Put simply, they are special fats (lipids) and make up 50 percent of the skin’s composition. As we know, an intact skin barrier protects us from harmful environmental influences, moisture loss and skin diseases. And this is exactly where the ceramides support: They build up our skin’s own barrier. But why do we need them at all when they are already present in our skin anyway?

At a young age, our skin produces a lot of ceramides. During the aging process, which is accelerated, for example, by UV light, the quality and number of ceramides decrease. This weakens the skin barrier, which means that moisture cannot be stored as well. Rough skin, imperfections and wrinkles result from it. So if we integrate this active ingredient into our skin care, our youthfulness is preserved – “slow-aging” is the keyword. So be prepared for smooth and firm skin. Even fine lines visibly diminish.

Everybody’s darling

Anyone who thinks that this slows down the body’s own ceramide production is wrong. That is why the term “slow aging” is more appropriate, because they are just as valuable for young skin. The best thing about it is that every skin type can take advantage of the benefits: whether you have dry, oily or blemished skin, a healthy skin barrier is the most important thing for all of us! Because it protects us against moisture loss and thus ensures soft, supple skin.

These substances stimulate production

It’s not just important to incorporate ceramides into your skin care routine. Substances that stimulate ceramide production should also be integrated. Because there are also ceramide precursors, such as hytosphingosine and sphingolipids, which help the top layers of the skin to produce more ceramides. So pay attention to these two terms in the INCI list.

There are other substances that stimulate production. For example niacinamide, which also strengthens the skin barrier and also boosts collagen production. Lactic acid also stimulates the skin’s own ceramide production from a concentration of 5%. Chemical peelings, like the lactic acid mentioned, can be combined with ceramides without any problems. It is even advised to do so, as removing the dead skin cells will make the product more easily absorbed by the skin.

You should pay attention to this when buying a product

Now we know: a good cream needs ceramides. If it’s not on the box, it probably doesn’t have one. Otherwise you will find the fabric declared on the back of the product. The packaging is particularly important for all anti-aging products: It should be airtight (pump dispenser) and UV-protected (non-transparent). Because the effectiveness decreases when it comes into contact with air or sunlight.

Ceramide products come in different categories. We can recommend the Ceramide Balm from A.Florence Skincare (around 33 euros) overnight. The thick texture is reminiscent of a lip balm, but cares for your skin incredibly intensively. The same goes for the Alfons Repair Creme (around 8 euros). If you have oily skin that is prone to blemishes, however, you should keep your hands off the two products. Then go for the Kate Somerville DeliKate Serum (around 86 euros) and the Cerave moisturizing face cream (around 10 euros). The Beyer and Sons Skin Cream + (around 50 euros) also contains a great combination of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and ceramides. But don’t forget: Daily sun protection is and will remain the best anti-aging product ever!

Sources used: Journal of Biological Chemistry