What Are Ceramides: A Complete Guide
SKINCAREJULY 2026
Ceramides are an essential component of healthy skin. Read on to learn what ceramides are, their beauty benefits, and how to use them in your routine.
What Do Ceramides Do: Key Takeaways
- Ceramides are lipids that make up ~50% of the skin barrier.
- They help retain moisture and prevent water loss in skin.
- Topical ceramides repair and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier.
- Ceramides are ideal for dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin.
- Found in Kiehl’s skincare formulas for dry or damaged skin.
Your skin is composed of a vast, complex network of proteins, nutrients, and lipids. Together, these essential compounds do everything from regulating your body temperature to preventing dehydration and even help protect you from pathogens.
In short, your body depends on your skin's natural moisture barrier functioning properly. And some of the most critical components of the skin barrier – and therefore, your body in general – are compounds known as ceramides. In addition to their role in maintaining the health and appearance of your skin, ceramides are popular ingredients in beauty formulations.
So, what are ceramides? Ahead, we’re doing a deep dive into the benefits of ceramides for your skin. We’ll also provide recommendations on the best Kiehl’s products with ceramides to add to your routine. Read on for your all-in-one guide to ceramides for skin routines.
What Are Ceramides?
Before we discuss the benefits of ceramides in skincare and beauty, it’s important that you have a solid understanding of what ceramides are. In basic terms, ceramides are a type of lipid, or fat, found throughout the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
They’re mostly composed of water-repellent fatty acids and molecules called sphingosines. There are at least eight different types of ceramides in human skin, each with its own unique structure and function. For this guide, we’ll be discussing ceramides in general rather than going into the properties of each specific type.
Ceramides make up approximately half of the total lipid content in the skin barrier; the rest is a mix of free fatty acids and cholesterol. Together, these compounds fill the spaces between skin cells to form a protective barrier against environmental stressors, like pollution and UV exposure. But what do ceramides do for skin? Their main purpose is to help prevent water loss and keep the skin adequately hydrated. These protective and hydration-enhancing properties make ceramides a popular ingredient in skincare, particularly for those with dry or dehydrated skin.
Ahead, we’ll break down five top benefits of ceramides that can help improve the appearance of your skin. Keep reading to learn why ceramides deserve a spot in your beauty routine.
The Benefits of Ceramides For Skin
The primary purpose of ceramides in skincare is to help maintain skin hydration and preserve the skin barrier. This is vital for healthy-looking skin, as barrier dysfunction is linked to several skin concerns, including dryness, sensitivity, and even premature aging. Here’s three ways topical ceramides for skin can help:
Ultra Facial Cream
1. Ceramides Help Keep Skin Hydrated
Ceramides are responsible for maintaining skin hydration and reducing water loss. A 2018 clinical research paper showed that moisturisers with ceramides can help visibly improve skin dryness for up to 24 hours after application. While useful for all skin types, moisturisers and face lotions containing ceramides are particularly useful for those with dry skin conditions like dermatitis or eczema.
The same study also revealed that ceramides can provide more intense and longer-lasting hydration than other popular emollients, including glycerine. This makes ceramides for skin a beneficial ingredient for those with dry, dehydrated, or damaged skin.
Kiehl’s Tip: Discover more ways to improve the look and feel of dryness in our article Our Best Moisturisers for Dry Skin.
2. Ceramides for Skin Can Help Repair the Skin Barrier
A 2023 ceramide skin barrier research paper, showed that sensitive skin is strongly associated with skin barrier damage and dysfunction. When the skin barrier is healthy, it can defend itself against potential irritants, like harsh skincare ingredients or dehydration. If it’s not working optimally, however, these stressors can damage the skin, leading to signs of irritation like redness or itching. Incorporating ceramides into your skincare routine can help keep your skin barrier strong enough to reduce the effects of these potential aggressors.
You’ll find ceramides in our Ultra Facial Barrier Balm, an on-the-go stick that forms an invisible barrier to protect and hydrate your skin. This handy face balm is formulated with several different types of ceramides for skin hydration, including Pro-Ceramides, which specifically make up a large portion of your skin barrier. The formula is also enriched with Squalene and Glacial Glycoprotein, ingredients that help hydrate and maintain your skin’s moisture balance.
Ultra Facial Barrier Balm
3. Ceramides May Help Improve Acne
Though ceramides are commonly found in skincare formulations for dry skin types, they’re also useful for those with oily or blemish-prone skin. Many topical acne ingredients, like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, can dehydrate the skin and damage the skin barrier if used improperly.
Moisturisers with ceramides help to restore the skin’s natural balance – and, a great benefit of ceramides is that since they’re a natural component of your skin, they won’t clog your pores or aggravate breakouts. This makes them an ideal moisturising ingredient for those with acne-prone skin that also exhibits signs of dehydration or irritation.
Kiehl’s Tip: Need more tips on how to deal with acne-prone skin? Read our article on Blemish Solution and Lotion Treatments.
Now that you know more about the benefits of ceramides, discover our Ultra Facial range of products containing ceramides and other hydrating ingredients for a strengthened skin barrier and plump, hydrated, healthier-looking skin.
