To the outside world, ceramides sound like a new proposition. They’re not. Beauty insiders have heard the word bandied around forever. But that doesn’t mean everyone understood what it meant. I recall, many years ago, attending a beauty launch in Paris. “Ceramide” was injected into every sentence and everyone nodded in all the right places. When we left, my colleagues and I looked perplexed. Finally, someone piped up: “So what the hell are ceramides?” So let’s break it down: if your skin cells were wall tiles, ceramides would be the grout that bonds them together. But more than that, ceramides are lipids – basically, fats – that seal in moisture keeping your skin looking plump, youthful and juicy. Young skin produces tons of ceramides. Older skin? Not so much. And the ceramides that are produced are not the quality they once were – sun damage, humidity, central heating don’t help. So, in order to replenish the ceramides in your skin, you need well-formulated, ceramide-rich products which is where these all come in. They will help keep your skin barrier healthy and (for those interested), they smooth fine lines, improve hydration levels and give you that plumper, youthful, juicy, healthy skin we all long for.
1. Elizabeth Arden Advanced Lift and Firm Day Cream £66, elizabetharden.co.uk
2. Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum £38, cultbeauty.co.uk
3. Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser £40, boots.com
4. Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream from £12, drjart.com
5. Youth To The People Dream Eye Cream £42, cultbeauty.co.uk
6. Drunk Elephant A Gloei Maretinol Oil £63, spacenk.com
7. Révive Intensité Volumizing Serum £430, harrods.com
8. Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream £30, libertylondon.com
9. CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser £12.50, boots.com
10. Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil Free Gel Cream £41, net-a-porter.com
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