If you ask the medical aestheticians over at the MD Beauty Clinic about ceramides, they will shout from the rooftops just how important they are for your skin health. They will also mention how this "trendy" skincare ingredient is already naturally present in our skin. In fact, many experts describe ceramides as the "glue" that holds all of our skin cells together from head to toe. Without a healthy level of ceramides, you can say goodbye to a glowing complexion and hello to various concerns such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis... But with many trending skincare ingredients rising in popularity, where do ceramides fit into your routine? Could you already be using products formulated with them and how do you know you're getting enough? Ceramides are often overlooked and rarely explained so let's get into the nitty gritty of this important component of your skin health.
What are Ceramides?
On medical grounds, ceramides are lipids (also known as fats) found naturally in high concentrations in the uppermost layer of your skin. Ceramides bond together with your skin cells to strengthen your skin barrier, reinforcing it to prevent any unnecessary moisture loss while also protecting it from environmental damage. So, it’s no surprise how vital of a role they play in the quality of your complexion.
As we age, our ceramide levels naturally begin to decrease, which directly affects the heartiness of our skin barrier. Along with age, using too many active products at once could also lead to a damaged barrier thus further breaking down this vital component.
What is the big deal of a "damaged" skin barrier? You don't need to ask us twice: A damaged barrier can lead to visible sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles, along with signs of dry and irritated skin. As far as anti-ageing ingredients go, Ceramides are a well-known ingredient that can restore and plump the skin and can even aid in the mild reversal of ageing.
- Boost hydration: Ceramides lock in moisture making them crucial during cold, dry winter months (us Canadians guys & gals know)
- Soothe redness and inflammation: Those with delicate, irritated skin conditions like eczema or rosacea can benefit from its moisturizing, soothing properties.
- Balance your skin’s pH level: Your skin is happiest and healthiest at a pH of around 5.5 which correlates to a healthy barrier.
So, ensuring you have a healthy skin barrier = high levels of ceramides and glowing skin ✅ Thankfully, our entire Platinum Collection (with the exception of Stem Cell Serum) is formulated with high-quality ceramides to help rebuild and strengthen your skin barrier.
Healing Your Skin Barrier
But unfortunately for us skincare aficionados, there are many ways to damage your skin barrier. From over-exfoliating, overdoing it on retinol or layering your actives incorrectly, these are just a few shortcuts to a damaged barrier. When this occurs, don't stress, save this article so you can follow our foolproof routine to heal your barrier and get your glow back on:
Step 1
Platinum Cleanser: Our top-tier face wash helps to clean the skin of debris without stripping it of natural moisturizing factors.
Step 2
Stem Cell Serum: A powerful combination of botanicals and stem cells to improve the skin-renewing process. Infused with Jojoba esters to help decrease the look of pore size and boost hydration to create firmer-looking skin.
Step 3
Rich Moisture: A deeply nourishing moisturizer enriched with vitamins and ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin E to restore healthy, glowing skin.
Booster Step:
Apply our cooling clay Mask 2-3 times a week to reduce inflammation and irritation. We love taking a warm cloth to the skin to help break it down while we gently wipe it away.
Did these steps work for you and your skin barrier? Let us know in the comments.