Ceramides: The Essential Lipids for Healthy Skin
Hey guys, Trish here, Founder of Good Psyche. Thanks for tuning in to The Good Journal. One quick announcement: We launched two playlists last month on Good Psyche’s Spotify channel, one is called Decaf, it’s a listen over Sunday morning coffee sort of vibe, and the other is called Pillowtalk, which makes for good background music for your more intimate moments to help you set the mood, and THIS month we’re launching Spring Cleaning as a soundtrack to get you excited about possibility and infuse new energy into your headspace …so give us a follow us on Spotify! We’re really intent on curating immersive, experiential playlists for your every mood.
So for those of you who don’t know, in 2020 I studied skincare at the Texas Laser and Aesthetics academy, and got certified and licensed in all sorts of medical aesthetics procedures and advanced skincare ingredients, so I know a lot about skin! I wanted to talk about Ceramides because it’s an ingredient we’re using in our face mist launching later this year, and they’re super important for the overall health of your skin.. Good Psyche is unique in that we create products that address both internal and external wellness. So Ceramides fall into that external wellness category.
Ceramides are a tried and true skincare ingredient that you may see time and again on labels and have no clue what they are or why they make for such a good addition to skincare products.
Ceramides are a type of lipid, or fat molecule, that are essential for maintaining healthy skin.
Now, your skin is your body’s largest organ, so barrier function is essential for maintaining homeostasis and protecting your body from the harmful effects of external factors such as UV radiation, pollution, and pathogens.
Your skin’s barrier is made up of several layers, including the stratum corneum, the epidermis, and the dermis. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the skin and is composed of dead skin cells and lipids. Those layers of dead skin cells, called corneocytes are held together by a matrix of lipids.
Ceramides are the main lipid component of this matrix and play a key role in holding the corneocytes together. They are a critical component of the skin's barrier, what is referred to as the acid mantle, which helps to keep moisture in and harmful substances out.
Various factors can damage the skin barrier function, including harsh skincare products, environmental factors, and medical conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. When the skin barrier function is compromised, it can lead to a range of skin problems, including dryness, itching, redness, and inflammation.
Ceramides help to repair your skin’s barrier function, not to mention they help your skin look more youthful, dewey, and glowing. Who doesn’t want that.
How can we Maintain Ceramide Levels?
Two avenues: one is using products that contain ceramides, including moisturizers, serums, and cleansers. That also means avoiding harsh skin care products and practices that can damage your skin’s barrier function, like over-exfoliating or using hot water to wash your face, or using harsh cleansers.
The other is diet. Eating a diet rich in healthy fats, like omega-3 fatty acids, can help to support healthy skin.
So, look forward to our ceramide mist launching this year, it’s going to be ultra hydrating and nourishing for your skin, and leave you glistening. Super excited to share that with y’all.
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Thanks for listening!