What are ceramides?

…And where to find them

Many of us have been bombarded with beauty buzzwords from the moment we started caring about our complexions, and ceramides are a shiny new addition to the already full pot. Instead of simply slapping a ‘ceramides’ label on our bottles, we want to help you understand what exactly they are, and why they’re an important addition to your skin care routine.

ceramides are the mortar between the bricks

Ceramides? What are you on about?

Ceramides are the vital building blocks of the epidermis. Around 50% of our skin is made up of this family of lipids. They consist of a variety of fatty acids and sphingosine, and there are lots of different types (though types don’t matter too much).

On a basic level, ceramides can be described as the glue that holds skin cells together, or the mortar between the bricks. They create a natural barrier between you and the world, locking in moisture and defending against environmental stressors. 

As you can imagine, this makes them a particularly valuable component of your skins health. Using ceramide-rich products is really beneficial, particularly in harsher, winter weather.

Where to find ceramides

Finding these magical mortar-building beauties can be a tricky business if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

The word ‘ceramides’ is essentially a blanket term for a whole bunch of fatty acids, but if you can recognise certain fatty acids, you’ll be able to track down a lot more ceramide-rich products.

Two key fatty acids to look out for are linoleic acid and niacinamide. These are vital ingredients of the ‘mortar’ and luckily enough, you can find them in a bunch of our products.

where to find ceramides

Linoleic acid 

Linoleic acid, also known as vitamin F, facilitates the creation of ceramide 1. We don’t naturally produce linoleic acid, so we need it from an outside source to create ceramides. Linoleic acid helps to strengthen your skin’s natural barrier, leading to plumper, healthier skin. 

You can find linoleic acid in a load of our products such as

Niacinamide 

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, increases the biosynthesis of a number of ceramides, while soothing inflammation and encouraging collagen production. It also lessens hyperpigmentation and regulates your sebum excretion rate, making it perfect for those with sensitive, dry and even acne prone skin. A wonderful all rounder!

You’ll find niacinamide in both of our gentle daily moisturisers.

Add these stealthy construction workers to your skin care routine today and your body will thank you!

Love, grüum.

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