Ceramide Barrier Moisturiser

Moisturiser is not the same as hydration — it is the product that keeps hydration in. The skin barrier is what determines how long the water you apply to skin stays there. Ceramides are the material that the skin barrier is made of.

What This Is

The Ceramide Barrier Moisturiser is a medium-weight cream formulated around a ceramide-dominant lipid complex that supplements the skin's own intercellular lipid matrix — the mortar between the "bricks" of skin cells that forms the moisture barrier. It is the moisturiser for skin that loses hydration quickly despite adequate water intake, for skin that feels tight and uncomfortable after cleansing, and for skin that shows sensitivity and reactivity that is more likely barrier dysfunction than inherent sensitivity.

The Ceramide Complex

The skin's intercellular lipid matrix is composed of three main lipid classes in a specific ratio: ceramides (approximately 50%), free fatty acids (approximately 25%), and cholesterol (approximately 25%). This specific ratio is critical for barrier function — altering the ratio in either direction reduces the barrier's moisture-retaining capacity. The moisturiser replicates this ratio: ceramide NP and ceramide AP (0.5% each), palmitic acid and linoleic acid as free fatty acids (0.3% combined), and cholesterol (0.2%). The molar ratio of these components mirrors the skin's own barrier lipid composition as established by research from the laboratory of Dr Peter Elias at UCSF — the researcher who characterised the skin barrier lipid composition and the first to demonstrate that ceramide-dominant topical lipid mixtures could repair barrier dysfunction.

The Additional Actives

Niacinamide at 5% — its ceramide-stimulating effect is particularly valuable in a barrier moisturiser, where the applied ceramides are supplemented by the stimulation of the skin's own ceramide production. Hyaluronic acid at 1% (three molecular weights) — providing the humectant hydration layer beneath the ceramide occlusive barrier layer. Panthenol at 2% for wound healing and soothing. Centella asiatica extract at 0.5% for its anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair properties. The combination of ceramides (barrier restoration), niacinamide (ceramide stimulation), and centella asiatica (inflammation reduction) addresses the three primary mechanisms of barrier dysfunction simultaneously.

The Texture and Base

A medium-weight cream — lighter than a traditional rich night cream, heavier than a gel-cream. The base uses a combination of C12-15 alkyl benzoate (a lightweight, non-comedogenic emollient) and squalane (structurally similar to skin sebum and therefore exceptionally well-tolerated) as the primary emollient system, with a small quantity of shea butter for the rich-cream texture that feels protective without occlusive heaviness. The formulation is non-comedogenic — tested on acne-prone skin — which means it is appropriate for use under the SPF 50 Daily Sunscreen as the morning moisturiser step without causing pore congestion.

When to Use It

Morning and evening, as the final skincare step before sunscreen in the morning and as the final step of the evening routine. The Ceramide Barrier Moisturiser works most effectively over the Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Serum — the HA provides the deep humectant hydration and the ceramide cream seals it in by creating a barrier against transepidermal water loss. The combination of HA serum + ceramide moisturiser is the most efficient two-product hydration protocol available for any skin type.

Details

50ml. Ceramide NP + AP 1% total, cholesterol 0.2%, free fatty acids 0.3%, niacinamide 5%, hyaluronic acid 1%, panthenol 2%, centella asiatica 0.5%, squalane 3%. Free from: parabens, fragrance, mineral oil. Dermatologist-tested. Suitable for all skin types, particularly dry, sensitive, and compromised barrier skin. Made in India.