There’s never been a better time to be the skin barrier, with more ways than ever to replenish, strengthen, and protect it. Two of the buzziest actives right now are peptides and ceramides — and for good reason. Naturally found within skin, these ingredients are in charge of keeping skin healthy, hydrated, and glowing, not to mention youthful and smooth.
While you find both ceramides and peptides for skin in essences, serums, and moisturizers, they actually work in slightly different ways to help you achieve your skin goals. And while it may be tempting to compare peptides vs. ceramides when you’re shopping, you might be missing out on some major benefits if you do. Instead, pairing peptides and ceramides together in your routine can be a powerful (and complementary) combination for your skin—ultimately giving you the best of both worlds. Here’s a closer look at what each ingredient brings to the table, and how you can make the most of them.
What are peptides?
First, let’s bring it back to Biology 101: Peptides are short chains of amino acids — sort of like proteins, but shorter. They’re naturally found in your skin, where they basically act as messengers: They communicate between cells to help your skin carry out different functions, like boosting collagen production, fading hyperpigmentation, improving skin barrier function, and reducing inflammation in the skin.
But not all peptides are created equal. Signal peptides cue your skin cells to do something (like create more collagen). Neurotransmitter inhibitor peptides actually inhibit muscle contractions — which can lead to wrinkles — while enzyme inhibitor peptides can minimize collagen breakdown. This is all to say: A peptide moisturizer can helpful for all skin types, but it can be especially powerful for people targeting signs of aging, like fine lines and dark spots, as well as those with dry skin.
If you’re in the market for peptides — namely, you’re hoping to smooth wrinkles and fine lines, brighten skin tone, and support the moisture barrier, then it doesn’t get much better than our Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream. It pairs soothing Centella asiatica (also known as cica) with the namesake 5-Peptide complex to restore firmness in lax skin. Also inside? The patented EMortal (N) plant peptide. Made from hydrolyzed pea protein, this peptide acts as a “stem cell protector.” Stem cells help maintain proper skin function — and when they break down, skin shows signs of aging. In defending these important cells, the EMortal (N) plant peptide helps support your long-term skin firmness and function, as well as slows signs of skin aging.
Our peptide moisturizer is also packed with hydrolyzed soy protein derived from 100% locally grown Jeju soybeans, which are known for being especially nutrient-dense. This soy protein helps boost skin elasticity — giving it that bounce — and minimize the appearance of deep wrinkles. Also inside are squalene for extra skin-barrier support, caffeine to reduce puffiness, and, of course, a ceramide for added moisturizing power.
This lineup of ingredients delivers serious results, all while feeling weightless on skin and absorbing quickly. In a clinical test over four weeks, women who applied the Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream saw big improvements, with a 30% improvement in wrinkles, 42% improvement in skin moisture, and 8% improvement in skin density. That’s the power of peptides.
What are ceramides?
Ceramides are lipids, and they play a huge role in your skin barrier. Imagine your skin cells in your moisture barrier are bricks. The ceramides (along with other lipids) act as the mortar in between, helping to create a seal to keep moisture in and external aggressors — like allergens and microbes — out.
However, it’s entirely possible to have low levels of ceramides, leaving skin dry, rough, and dull. And it’s more common than you might think: Environmental factors, like sun damage and cold temperatures, can sap moisture from your skin and damage your skin barrier, as do habits like washing with super-hot water and using harsh actives. Aging can also reduce the number of ceramides in your skin, too, which is why skin tends to get dry as you get older.
By supplementing ceramides in your routine, you can restore your moisture barrier to baseline levels — helping skin stay properly hydrated, soft, and smooth. That makes ceramides helpful for anyone dealing with dry skin (whether it’s genetic or caused by seasonal changes), as well as dryness caused by aging.
With that in mind, if your skin is sending up an SOS — think dryness, roughness, or redness — or you’re swapping in a new moisturizer for the fall season, then it’s worth going all-out with a ceramide cream. Buttery and luxurious (but surprisingly lightweight), Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream provides instant comfort — not to mention all-dry hydration and skin-barrier support.
Designed to nourish all skin types, the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream contains 1% ceramides. That’s not only more potent than other moisturizers on the shelf, but these ceramides are also housed in visible capsules. It’s not just for aesthetics: The capsules are actually created to mimic the skin structure, which ensures better absorption, lasting moisture, and — by restoring ceramide levels in the skin barrier — extra skin protection.
For extra defense, the formula also includes upcycled, antioxidant-packed black rice jigemi extract and fermented black rice, our go-to ingredients for unmatched brightening and soothing properties. Also protecting skin is vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant and lipid in its own right) as well as calming allantoin.
Want to level up your barrier repair? Apply our Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence first. Together, they deliver a 37% improvement in moisture and 24% improvement in the skin barrier after just two weeks, and are a quick, easy way to get plumper skin and long-lasting hydration. Follow with the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream, pressing it into skin to allow the ceramide capsules to melt.
Which are better, ceramides or peptides?
Neither ceramides or peptides are necessarily better — they just have two different ways of working. Since they often come as moisturizers, you might want to pick one and use it twice a day, depending on your concerns and how soon you want to see results.
But using peptides and ceramides together can be a good option, too, if you’re dealing with early signs of aging or dryness (or both!). Take our Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream — it’s rich in peptides, but also contains ceramides.
Or, if you deal with seasonal dryness — for instance, you have naturally oily skin that only needs extra TLC in the winter — then you can use a ceramide cream in the winter and a dedicated peptide cream for wrinkles the rest of the year.
At the end of the day, both peptides and ceramides merit a place in your routine. A peptide cream for wrinkles is worth trying if you’re worried about signs of aging, while dryness, discomfort, and other symptoms of a damaged skin call for ceramides. Or, of course, you could use both as your skin concerns change—after all, it’s worth being a little extra for your skin.
Peptides vs. Ceramides: Which Is the Best Moisturizer for You?
There’s never been a better time to be the skin barrier, with more ways than ever to replenish, strengthen, and protect it. Two of the buzziest actives right now are peptides and ceramides — and for good reason. Naturally found within skin, these ingredients are in charge of keeping skin healthy, hydrated, and glowing, not to mention youthful and smooth.
While you find both ceramides and peptides for skin in essences, serums, and moisturizers, they actually work in slightly different ways to help you achieve your skin goals. And while it may be tempting to compare peptides vs. ceramides when you’re shopping, you might be missing out on some major benefits if you do. Instead, pairing peptides and ceramides together in your routine can be a powerful (and complementary) combination for your skin—ultimately giving you the best of both worlds. Here’s a closer look at what each ingredient brings to the table, and how you can make the most of them.
What are peptides?
First, let’s bring it back to Biology 101: Peptides are short chains of amino acids — sort of like proteins, but shorter. They’re naturally found in your skin, where they basically act as messengers: They communicate between cells to help your skin carry out different functions, like boosting collagen production, fading hyperpigmentation, improving skin barrier function, and reducing inflammation in the skin.
But not all peptides are created equal. Signal peptides cue your skin cells to do something (like create more collagen). Neurotransmitter inhibitor peptides actually inhibit muscle contractions — which can lead to wrinkles — while enzyme inhibitor peptides can minimize collagen breakdown. This is all to say: A peptide moisturizer can helpful for all skin types, but it can be especially powerful for people targeting signs of aging, like fine lines and dark spots, as well as those with dry skin.
If you’re in the market for peptides — namely, you’re hoping to smooth wrinkles and fine lines, brighten skin tone, and support the moisture barrier, then it doesn’t get much better than our Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream. It pairs soothing Centella asiatica (also known as cica) with the namesake 5-Peptide complex to restore firmness in lax skin. Also inside? The patented EMortal (N) plant peptide. Made from hydrolyzed pea protein, this peptide acts as a “stem cell protector.” Stem cells help maintain proper skin function — and when they break down, skin shows signs of aging. In defending these important cells, the EMortal (N) plant peptide helps support your long-term skin firmness and function, as well as slows signs of skin aging.
Our peptide moisturizer is also packed with hydrolyzed soy protein derived from 100% locally grown Jeju soybeans, which are known for being especially nutrient-dense. This soy protein helps boost skin elasticity — giving it that bounce — and minimize the appearance of deep wrinkles. Also inside are squalene for extra skin-barrier support, caffeine to reduce puffiness, and, of course, a ceramide for added moisturizing power.
This lineup of ingredients delivers serious results, all while feeling weightless on skin and absorbing quickly. In a clinical test over four weeks, women who applied the Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream saw big improvements, with a 30% improvement in wrinkles, 42% improvement in skin moisture, and 8% improvement in skin density. That’s the power of peptides.
What are ceramides?
Ceramides are lipids, and they play a huge role in your skin barrier. Imagine your skin cells in your moisture barrier are bricks. The ceramides (along with other lipids) act as the mortar in between, helping to create a seal to keep moisture in and external aggressors — like allergens and microbes — out.
However, it’s entirely possible to have low levels of ceramides, leaving skin dry, rough, and dull. And it’s more common than you might think: Environmental factors, like sun damage and cold temperatures, can sap moisture from your skin and damage your skin barrier, as do habits like washing with super-hot water and using harsh actives. Aging can also reduce the number of ceramides in your skin, too, which is why skin tends to get dry as you get older.
By supplementing ceramides in your routine, you can restore your moisture barrier to baseline levels — helping skin stay properly hydrated, soft, and smooth. That makes ceramides helpful for anyone dealing with dry skin (whether it’s genetic or caused by seasonal changes), as well as dryness caused by aging.
With that in mind, if your skin is sending up an SOS — think dryness, roughness, or redness — or you’re swapping in a new moisturizer for the fall season, then it’s worth going all-out with a ceramide cream. Buttery and luxurious (but surprisingly lightweight), Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream provides instant comfort — not to mention all-dry hydration and skin-barrier support.
Designed to nourish all skin types, the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream contains 1% ceramides. That’s not only more potent than other moisturizers on the shelf, but these ceramides are also housed in visible capsules. It’s not just for aesthetics: The capsules are actually created to mimic the skin structure, which ensures better absorption, lasting moisture, and — by restoring ceramide levels in the skin barrier — extra skin protection.
For extra defense, the formula also includes upcycled, antioxidant-packed black rice jigemi extract and fermented black rice, our go-to ingredients for unmatched brightening and soothing properties. Also protecting skin is vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant and lipid in its own right) as well as calming allantoin.
Want to level up your barrier repair? Apply our Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence first. Together, they deliver a 37% improvement in moisture and 24% improvement in the skin barrier after just two weeks, and are a quick, easy way to get plumper skin and long-lasting hydration. Follow with the Black Rice 5 Ceramide Barrier Moisturizing Cream, pressing it into skin to allow the ceramide capsules to melt.
Which are better, ceramides or peptides?
Neither ceramides or peptides are necessarily better — they just have two different ways of working. Since they often come as moisturizers, you might want to pick one and use it twice a day, depending on your concerns and how soon you want to see results.
But using peptides and ceramides together can be a good option, too, if you’re dealing with early signs of aging or dryness (or both!). Take our Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream — it’s rich in peptides, but also contains ceramides.
Or, if you deal with seasonal dryness — for instance, you have naturally oily skin that only needs extra TLC in the winter — then you can use a ceramide cream in the winter and a dedicated peptide cream for wrinkles the rest of the year.
At the end of the day, both peptides and ceramides merit a place in your routine. A peptide cream for wrinkles is worth trying if you’re worried about signs of aging, while dryness, discomfort, and other symptoms of a damaged skin call for ceramides. Or, of course, you could use both as your skin concerns change—after all, it’s worth being a little extra for your skin.