Ceramide NP

Ceramide NP (Ceramide 3) is a skin-identical lipid that makes up a large portion of the skin's natural barrier. It acts as the "mortar" between skin cells, locking in moisture and helping shield against environmental stress — making it a key active in moisturisers, serums and barrier-repair creams for dry, mature, sensitive or compromised skin.

This is a high-purity, single-ceramide raw material — one of the building blocks premium barrier creams combine with cholesterol and fatty acids, rather than a pre-blended skin-lipid complex.

Specifications

• INCI name: Ceramide NP
• Also known as: Ceramide 3
• Type: N-oleoyl phytosphingosine
• Purity: Over 90% (high-purity powder)
• Form: Neat powder — not pre-dispersed in a carrier system
• Solubility: Oil-soluble
• Composition: Single ceramide — contains no cholesterol, no free phytosphingosine, and no additional ceramides (AP, EOP, etc.)

How to use

• Add to the oil/heated phase at around 70–80°C and stir until fully melted and dispersed.
• Typical use level is low — around 0.05–0.5%.
• For barrier repair, pair with cholesterol and fatty acids (a ceramide : cholesterol : fatty acid ratio of roughly 3:1:1 is a common starting point) to mimic the skin's natural lipid matrix.

Key benefits

• Deeply hydrates and helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss
• Supports and repairs the skin barrier
• Improves skin softness and elasticity
• Structurally identical to skin's own ceramides for high compatibility