CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

A glycosaminoglycan humectant that binds large amounts of water; high-molecular-weight forms sit on the surface as a hydrating film, low-molecular-weight forms penetrate the stratum corneum. Because it is a humectant, in dry air it can pull water from deeper skin — so apply to damp skin and seal it.

A small humectant that attracts and holds water in the stratum corneum, delivered into the epidermis partly via aquaporin-3. It raises hydration, improves plasticity and desquamation, and supports barrier recovery — one of the best-evidenced moisturizing agents.

As listed: Ceramide NP

Sphingolipids that make up roughly 50% of stratum corneum lipids by mass (with ~25% cholesterol and ~15% free fatty acids) and organize into the lamellar bilayers that form the permeability barrier. Reinforcing them lowers water loss; deficiencies are a hallmark of atopic dermatitis.

One of the three key stratum corneum lipids (about 25% of them), required to organize the lamellar bilayers of the barrier. Applied in optimized, cholesterol-dominant ratios it accelerates barrier recovery, especially in aged skin.