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Ceramides are waxy lipid molecules that make up 50% of the skin’s barrier, where they protect the skin, and help retain moisture. Your skin’s barrier may weaken if exposed to hot water, harsh soap, and certain chemicals, in which case you can restore it with some help from ceramides. They come in many beauty products such as cleansers, lotions, and creams.
They help you restore your skin’s barrier, which gives it increased protection from environmental factors, and makes your skin less dry. The result is youthful-looking skin. If you have been experiencing dryness, tight skin, redness, and irritation, ceramides may be the answer to your problems.
If you have acne-prone skin, certain products may worsen the problem. Make sure you choose a light, oil-free product rather than a thick cream, which can clog your pores. Another downside is that ceramides aren’t particularly stable, and they degrade with exposure to light and air. Get the product in an opaque, airtight pump for the best results.
Pores are itsy-bitsy openings in the skin—and there are millions covering every millimeter of skin. There are two types of pores with different functions: sweat pores and oil pores. The sweat pore allows moisture, produced by sweat glands, to exude out to the surface of the skin, where it helps to cool the body in response to heat, exertion or fever. Sweat pores are so tiny, they are mostly invisible to the human eye.
The oil pore, on the other hand, is a bit larger. Oil pores are also known as hair follicles because these pores produce oil from the sebaceous glands, but they are also the openings from which hair emerges. The oils help to keep our skin and hair healthy. It is the oil pores that can get clogged with sweat, debris and other gunk, causing acne, blackheads and whiteheads. Sweat pores rarely get clogged, as they are so tiny.
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and unclogging pores. It is one of the longest-used medications to keep pores clean and healthy. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil are also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for keeping pores unclogged as well.
ceramides may be effective for clogged pores, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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