Combining ceramides and avocado oil: identical lipids, foreign lipids

A "physiological" lipid is a lipid that the skin recognizes. Ceramides are among them; avocado oil is not. This is not a defect; it is another function.

The difference, in practice

A physiological lipid integrates into the existing intercellular cement: it fills the empty space and restores the barrier function. A foreign lipid deposits on top and forms a film that slows down evaporation.

Both limit water loss through two distinct pathways. The first acts on the structure, the second on the surface. Dry skin generally needs both, which is why this combination works.

What avocado oil contains

It is rich in oleic acid, which makes it thick yet penetrating. Its unsaponifiable fraction is high for a vegetable oil, around two to six percent depending on the extraction, and it contains phytosterols and vitamin E.

This richness makes it an excellent oil for dry skin. On combination skin, it is often too heavy; on oily skin, it should be avoided. Our avocado oil page specifies these indications.

What ceramides support

They represent approximately half of the lipids in the intercellular cement. The benefits of ceramides stem entirely from this position: supporting the skin barrier makes the skin less permeable in both directions.

On sensitive skin, this action explains the reduction in reactions after a few weeks. An intact barrier lets in less irritants, and this soothing effect is achieved through a mechanical rather than chemical pathway.

The gesture

Ceramide cream on clean, still-damp skin. Wait two minutes. Then three drops of avocado oil warmed between the palms, as the final layer.

Use the oil only in the evening, as its greasy feel does not blend well with makeup. In the morning, the cream alone is sufficient, under sun protection.

Identifying ceramides on a label

They are written as "ceramide NP," "ceramide AP," "ceramide EOP" — the letters describe the chemical structure, not the quality. Their presence in the first third of the ingredient list indicates a useful quantity.

The word "ceramide" alone, without a code, often refers to a plant extract rich in related compounds rather than an identified molecule. This is not disqualifying, but it cannot be compared on a like-for-like basis.

In the catalog

The ceramide repairing night cream covers the first step, and the nourishing face oil handles the second with a lighter texture than avocado, which is more suitable for skin that is not frankly dry.