Ceramides are lipids that are found naturally in high concentrations in the upper layers of skin, limiting moisture loss and protecting against visible damage from pollution and other environmental stressors. Ceramides help to reinforce your skin’s barrier and increase hydration—giving you plumper, smoother, firmer-feeling skin with fewer visible lines and wrinkles, as well as fewer signs of sensitivity. They also improve rosacea!
Ceramides work extremely well in combination with AHA or BHA leave on serums, dead skin will be washed away by this gentle exfoliator which will improve the effectiveness of your ceramide product. Ceramides can lose their effectiveness if they are exposed to light and air, so it’s better to use products with pumps rather than jars and tubs.
Works very well with Niacinamide, also known as B3 water-soluble button that improves the skin barrier by reducing the impact of environmental damage, signs of-past damage, minimises large pores, improves uneven skin tone. It is an anti-inflammatory which makes it great for those with sensitive and rosacea-prone skin as it helps to reduce blemishes, hydrates the skin.
Niacinamide mixes very well with moisturisers that contain glycerine, cholesterol, or Sodium PCA.
For those who would like to maximise the effect you can combine niacinamide with retinol. Apply niacinamide first and follow up with retinol as this will protect the skin from the effects of retinol.
Combining Niacinamide with Vitamin C can cancel out the good properties of the vitamin and turn it into a substance that causes redness and can trigger acne blemishes.
Acids have lower PH 3-4 and Niacinamide has a higher PH 5-7 so combining AHA’s or BHA’s can reduced the effectiveness of the Niacinamide can also cause redness and flushing!
AHA’s Which I Love:
1. Alpha Hydroxy Acid - water- soluble acid that is made from sugary fruits. They help to peel the dead skin away leaving skin smooth and fresh, helps with light discolouration.
2. Mixing well with Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, Glycerine cream based products to maximise the effect . Also, AHAs serum can be used as an individual application without mixing it.
3. Use it in the evening - 4 drops of the serum, leave it to penetrate for about 5-10 minutes and then apply the cream of your choice. Use SPF 30 during the day.
4. Do not layer it with Vitamin C as it will irritate the skin and it won’t be stable to penetrate!
Do not layer it with Retinol! You can cause severe irritation, peeling, burning or even severe pigmentation!
Tip: you can alternate the AHA with the Retinol each a week but never combined them together!
