CERAMIDE NP
Ceramide NP
🔬 Scientific context and mechanisms
- Ceramide NP (N-stearoyl phytosphingosine) is a non-polar ceramide naturally present in the skin.
- It is one of the most abundant and essential ceramides in the stratum corneum lipid matrix.
- Plays a crucial role in barrier integrity, water retention, and skin protection.
- Structurally, it is based on phytosphingosine + stearic acid, making it particularly compatible with the skin’s natural lipid profile.
🌟 Properties and skin benefits
- Barrier repair and reinforcement
- Replenishes depleted ceramide levels.
- Helps restore the multilamellar lipid layers with cholesterol and fatty acids.
- Strengthens the protective barrier against irritants and allergens.
- Deep hydration
- Reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
- Improves stratum corneum hydration, elasticity, and softness.
- Prevents flaking and rough texture.
- Soothing and anti-inflammatory action
- Helps calm irritated or inflamed skin.
- Beneficial for sensitive, reactive, or atopic skin.
- Reduces redness, stinging, and discomfort.
- Anti-aging and skin resilience
- Reinforces skin’s natural structure → smoother, firmer, more elastic skin.
- Helps reduce fine lines linked to dehydration and barrier weakening.
- Supports long-term resilience against environmental stress.
- Restorative in compromised skin
- Plays a central role in conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.
- Supports healing of damaged, dry, or cracked skin.
💊 Cosmetic and dermatological applications
- Repair creams for sensitive or dry skin
- Barrier-strengthening serums
- Moisturizers for mature, atopic, or dehydrated skin
- Baby skincare and post-treatment formulations
⚖️ Usual concentrations
- Typically 0.1–1% in cosmetics.
- Most effective when combined with cholesterol and fatty acids (the natural “ceramide complex”).
🔗 Best synergies
- Ceramide EOS, AP, and EOP → complete skin lipid restoration
- Cholesterol + fatty acids → recreates physiological lipid balance
- Niacinamide → stimulates natural ceramide production
- Hyaluronic Acid & Sodium Hyaluronate → hydration synergy
- Panthenol, Allantoin, Madecassoside → extra soothing and repair
✅ Summary
Ceramide NP is a fundamental skin-identical lipid that:
- Strengthens and restores the skin barrier
- Provides lasting hydration
- Soothes irritation and inflammation
- Enhances elasticity and resilience
- Plays a critical role in treating sensitive, dry, or atopic skin