Too often skincare is marketed to make us focus on surface level concerns. But almost always, our skin is showing signs of issues from much deeper within. So what would happen if we address our skin concerns by looking at the very building blocks that form the structure of our skin and strengthen and tweak from here? This is where lipids and lipid-rich skincare come into play.

 

Quite simply, lipids are the skins natural fat and they live within the different layers of the skin. Epidermal Biology Expert Dr Peter Elias  compared the structure of our skin to a brick wall, with the skin cells acting as the bricks and the lipids are the cement holding the structure together, showing just how crucial lipids are for a strong and healthy skin barrier. There are two umbrella categories of lipids which allow us to differentiate them based on where they are in the skin.

1. Epidermal Lipids; this category includes ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol – all crucial components for to form a strong outer layer of the skin.

2. Sebaceous Lipids; this includes triglyicerides, squalane and wax esters.

Each individual lipid within the skin serves its own purpose to create an overall strong and well functioning skin barrier. For instance, cholesterol within the skin works specifically to encourage quick recovery and so a cholesterol lipid deficiency can cause the skin to be less elastic. Whereas ceramides promote plump, youthful skin and minimise signs of dryness by increasing and retaining hydration.

 

In our youth our skin is rich in natural lipids, which is why it is able to retain moisture, is full of elasticity and able to quickly recover from most  damage it experiences. Unfortunately, as we age our natural lipid production depletes, particularly for women over 40 who experiences a lot of hormonal changes from a drop in estrogen, but on top of this external stressors can also exacerbate and accelerate our lipid depletion. For instance, sun exposure without adequate protection can weaken and diminish our body’s natural lipids. Similarly, an environment with high humidity, dry air, or environmental pollutants can also negatively impact out lipid production. This loss of lipids can occur not only because of environmental stressors, but also by our own actions. Using harsh, stripping skincare products can significantly damage our lipid barrier, but also using too many or incorrectly layering active ingredients can undermine all our efforts in the first place. In particular, over cleansing and exfoliating have shown to cause more damage than good by disrupting our skins natural pH, and weakening our skins lipids. The overall impact of this is that our skin is less able to protect itself from external stressors allowing free radicals and oxidative stress to run rampant. So, what can we do about it? Fortunately, a lot.

 

The truth is, whilst our skin is super resilient and able to handle a lot more than we think, it also needs to be cared for to be at it’s healthiest just like any other part of our body. A few lifestyle changes can make a bigger difference than you’d think, sunscreen being first and foremost. This one is a must, because protecting and preserving your health is the biggest priority. Next is avoiding harsh climates where possible, prolonged periods of having the air conditioner on, or your radiators cranked up can have an impact, so try and drop them down a setting or two. When it comes to skincare, knowing what you’re putting on to your skin is crucial. Get to grips with how to read skincare ingredient lists – or better yet, look for products that make ingredient lists readable! At Vemel we have always been open and encouraging about people understanding what ingredients we include in our products. And when you’re proud of each and every product formula, there’s no need to hide behind confusing language. Which brings us onto lipid rich skincare. 

 

Finding products with skin barrier repair as a priority will allow the skin to replace, repair and protect its lipids. Start off by swapping our your foaming cleanser which is high in Sodium Laurel Sulphate (not your skin’s friend!) for a gentle yet effective cleansing oil. Our Vemel No.1 Cleansing Oil works to rid the skin of any impurities whilst keeping the skins natural fats and oils in tact. This is because of its carefully curated ingredient list which includes the likes of Camellia Seed Oil – rich in skin rejuvenating vitamins and minerals as well as Squalane lipids, making it a super hydrating agent and moisturising ingredient, the boost of lipids makes it perfect for those of us in need of some skin nourishment. 

Your next lipid boosting product is our Vemel Vitamin Rich Face Butter – this product combines the dynamic duo that is upcycled Pomegranate Sterols with Green Algae lipids to offer a hit of hydration as well as being known for their anti inflammatory and antioxidant agents, making it the perfect product to strengthen the skins protective barrier and bring out the healthy glow we’re all looking for. 

Take things a step further to boost your lipids by including a lipid rich serum in your routine. Vemel Advanced Protective Serum includes skin identical lipids in the form of Amaranth CO2 Extract. It’s high Squalance content works a dream for those suffering with dry skin conditions like Eczema as it is able to effectively penetrate the skin to alleviate irritation. It’s skin similar composition means it is able to offer it’s many benefits whilst still maintaining the skins natural equilibrium. 

 

So for those of us suffering with dryness and dehydration, it’s important to note it is not only treatable, but it is manageable with just a few lifestyle changes, and just a few purposeful lipid rich products.