You Need Ceramides in Your Skincare—Here’s Why

If keeping your complexion moisturized, healthy, and protected against environmental damage are your primary skincare goals (we’re guessing that’s a yes), look no further than ceramides for skin. These hydrating overachievers can be found in moisturizing and anti-aging products and are beloved by skin experts for their ability to aid your skin in staying moisturized and smooth, both immediately and long-term. Ceramide skin benefits range from providing hydration, to preventing premature aging, to keeping skin looking and feeling supple. 

While predominantly found in skincare like ceramide serum or creams, there are also benefits to infusing this multi-tasking natural moisturizer into your makeup—like our new Milk Makeup Infinity Long Wear Eyeliners. To learn more about ceramide benefits and how best to add them into your existing routine, we spoke to dermatologist Sejal Shah, M.D. to get the full scoop on ceramides.

What are ceramides?

“​​Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids that are an essential component of the skin,” says Dr. Shah. These lipids, or fats, are what make up your skin’s moisture barrier—the outermost layer of the skin—helping to lock in moisture and keep out bacteria and environmental aggressors that could damage the layers beneath. “It keeps what you need in and what you don’t out,” says Dr. Shah. A common analogy many skin experts use is of “bricks and mortar.” Your skin cells are the bricks, and ceramides and other lipids are the mortar that helps bind them together. 

What are the benefits of ceramides in skincare? As an integral part of your skin barrier, ceramides both maintain and reinforce your moisture barrier to maintain skin hydration and health. “When your skin barrier is functioning optimally, your skin is able to retain moisture and protect against external aggressors,” says Dr. Shah. By strengthening your barrier function, ceramides can also help with inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and acne. Another immediate ceramide skin benefit you’ll notice is its ability to hydrate the skin. Unlike humectant moisturizers, which hydrate by drawing moisture from the air into the skin, ceramides lock in moisture by sealing it in to prevent the water loss that causes dry skin. Added bonus: Many ceramide skincare products also create a softening and smoothing effect on the skin as they restore those lost lipids. Which skin types are ceramides best for? According to Dr. Shah, ceramides work well for all skin types because they’re an essential ingredient for healthy skin. This is especially true as you age: Adding skincare with ceramides into your routine helps supplement those you naturally lose over time. “As we age, ceramide production decreases,” says Dr. Shah. “By replenishing ceramides, your skin is more hydrated and appears more plump and youthful.”  Starting in your 30s and 40s, you’ll begin to see a marked decrease in ceramides production that will manifest as thinning and drier skin. Supplementing topical skincare products containing ceramides can help replenish those that have been lost and keep your skin barrier healthy.

Which ingredients do ceramides work well with?

Because ceramides are naturally occurring in your own skin, the good news is that they pair well with a wide range of popular ingredients. Dr. Shah likes to combine them with other hydrating and skin barrier-replenishing options to amplify their benefits. Ceramides also pair well with strong active ingredients like retinols or acids—they can help insulate the skin against their drying effects and make them more tolerable than when used on their own.

How can you add ceramides to your skincare routine?

“Typically I recommend looking for moisturizers and serums with ceramides,” says Dr. Shah. For best results, apply them after a humectant product—one containing hyaluronic acid, like our Milk Makeup Hydro Ungrip Makeup Remover + Cleansing Water—to seal in additional hydration for ultimate dewiness, glow, and a plumping effect. 

But, don’t let your skincare routine have all the fun: Our new Milk Makeup Infinity Long Wear Eyeliner brings ceramides to your makeup bag, too. With 12-hour wear, the ceramides, avocado oil, and aloe vera formula glides on smooth to soothe and nourish your lash line as it delivers bold, precise color that lasts.

Meet The Expert

Sejal Shah, M.D. (she/her) is a board-certified dermatologist and the medical director and founder at Smarter Skin Dermatology in Manhattan, New York. An expert in the latest treatments and techniques, Dr. Shah received her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she is currently a faculty member in the Department of Dermatology. She’s the go-to expert for many top media outlets, including Refinery29, Allure, InStyle, and Self.