Ceramide EOP

Ceramide EOP belongs to a larger group of ceramides that are found naturally in skin as long chains of lipids (fats). The “P” indicates the ceramide contains phytosphingosine, while the “EO” refers to the type of fatty acid correlated with the ingredient.

Healthy skin is typically made up of 50% ceramides, but as the levels of ceramides decrease over time, skin’s barrier becomes weaker, making it more vulnerable to external stressors and dehydration. As a skin care ingredient, topical application of ceramide EOP can step in to help fill this gap and strengthen skin’s barrier against external stimuli. This works best when combined with other ceramides + replenishing ingredients like fatty acids and cholesterol. Together, these lipid mixtures improve skin’s hydration, resiliency, and suppleness.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel’s 2020 assessment concluded that ceramide ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use. Their survey data looked at personal care products containing concentrations between 0.000001-0.01% of ceramide EOP. Ceramides used in skin care are typically synthetic (aka lab engineered.) They can also be sourced naturally from plants.