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Aging is a universal skincare concern regardless of whether or not you struggle with dry, oily, sensitive skin, or anything in between. From sun damage to the development of fine lines and wrinkles, it’s often easier to prevent these issues from appearing than treating them once they’re already present on your complexion. That’s why it’s best to create a skincare routine which protects your skin from UV rays and locks in moisture, increasing collagen production for firmer, younger looking skin.
Aside from sunscreen and retinol which are two of the most valuable skincare ingredients on the market, there’s one product which often flies under the radar but can be a powerful ally in preserving your skin as you grow older. We spoke with Taylor Worden, Celebrity Esthetician and Founder of Taylor Worden Skin to get a sense of which ingredients should actually earn a spot in your routine for anti-aging, and she confirmed that ceramides are essential for a number of reasons.
According to Worden, ceramides are naturally occuring fatty acids and lipids within the skin cells that make up about half the epidermis, or the outer layer of your skin, holding together the texture and appearance of your complexion. Seeing as ceramides are already present in your skin, including them in your skincare routine can help provide a backup layer of protection by maintaining the barrier.
“Ceramides lock in moisture, protect the skin, help with inflammatory conditions, improve the barrier function, elasticity, fine lines, firmer and healthier looking skin,” explains Worden. This is all essential for anti-aging as with time your skin begins to lose moisture, making fine lines and sagging more apparent. In keeping up with this ingredient in combination with UV protection and retinol, it essentially covers all areas of your skin that may be attacked by aging.
In order to see the best results, it’s important to start using a ceramide based moisturizer as soon as possible, ideally before signs of aging may have appeared. Using this ingredient twice a day will not only hydrate your skin for less rough patches, but may also increase the cell turnover rate of your complexion.
“The best option is when [ceramides] are in a cream form and should be towards the last steps of your routine before applying SPF. You can also eat a lot of fats like oily fish, seeds and nuts, which will help to produce more ceramides in your skin,” explains Worden.
It is important to remember, however, that no skincare ingredient is going to be the magic cure-all to aging, so giving ceramides the time to work into your skin is essential when looking for results. “[It could be] a few weeks to a few months to see the results. It depends on your skin’s turnover rate but everyone is different,” notes Worden.
That being said, you may expedite these results by ensuring that the rest of your skincare routine and diet is helping to work towards your goals as well. This means using SPF religiously and integrating retinol or bakuchiol serum into the evenings for increased collagen production.
Providing deep moisture to protect the outer barrier of the skin while fighting against sagging and wrinkles, ceramides are an essential addition to your anti-aging routine for youthful, glowing skin. Alone it will be a powerful ingredient to enhance hydration, but in combination with a balanced and thoughtful diet and skincare regimen to boost collagen production, ceramides can help to promote healthy skin at any age.
