As far as skin-care ingredients go, ceramides are heroes for nourishing dry or irritated skin — which is why there’s ample competition for the best ceramide moisturizer. Not only are these products a favorite among dermatologists, but they’re widely available at every price point, from drugstore steals to luxury treatments.
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“Ceramides are fatty acids in the skin that help to maintain the skin barrier and retain moisture and hydration,” Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, tells Allure. It helps to think of ceramides as the building blocks of your skin. “Ceramides are found in high concentrations within cell membranes,” NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD, says. “They hold skin cells together on the top layer of the skin, forming a protective layer that plumps the skin and retains moisture” and protects your skin against environmental stressors — which is why they’re a mainstay among the best moisturizers.
“Extreme cold-weather temperatures, exposure to hot water, and dry heat can all deplete the ceramides stored in your skin,” says Dr. Idriss. As a result, it’s critical to introduce ceramide-fortified products to lock in moisture and restore your skin’s barrier function. They’re also a key ingredient to look out for when treating skin conditions like eczema or moisturizing your skin after a laser treatment.
When scanning your ingredient lists, look out for different types of ceramides, ceramide NP, AP, EOP, NG, NP, NS, as well as phytosphingosine and sphingosine. (Another good bet is humectants, which supply the hydration that ceramides then seal into skin.)
With that being said, here are the 15 best ceramide moisturizers and serums for healthy, hydrated skin.
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