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9 best ceramide serums to strengthen and hydrate skin
Suffer from sensitivity? These serums will help to moisturise and leave skin stronger than ever.
Tested by Orla BadgerSenior Beauty and Grooming Tester
This article was updated in April to reflect the latest deals and discounts.
It’s a sad fact that harsh and unpredictable weather conditions (welcome to the UK) often leave our skin feeling raw and dry. So, if you're keen to commit to a hard-working skincare routine to negate the erratic weather this year, consider adding a nourishing ceramide serum to your beauty kit.
Though not as well-known as some other skincare ingredients, ceramides play a key role in keeping your skin barrier at its best (more on that later).
To find the most effective ceramide serums, we asked our panel of 240 testers to try a range of leading products for a month. These were the nine they rated at a glance but scroll on for their detailed reviews.
Best Ceramide Serums
What are ceramides?
You might not have heard of ceramides, but your skin most definitely has. These lipids or fats help maintain a healthy skin barrier, which locks in moisture while keeping environmental aggressors like pollution at bay.
Like collagen, ceramides deplete over time, which is where a top-up serum comes in handy.
What do ceramides do for the skin?
Ceramides are a vital cog in the skincare machine — without them, your skin’s barrier may become compromised and desert-dryness will set in.
Some of the many signs of damage include redness, inflammation, tightness, itchiness and acne.
Those with skincare conditions such as eczema, rosacea and psoriasis are most likely to benefit from a ceramide serum, as well as anyone with dehydrated, stressed skin. It may also help with ageing concerns as low ceramide levels can contribute to an increase in fine lines, due to lack of hydration.
How we test ceramide serums
Our 240 testers put 16 brands of ceramide serum to the test over a four-week period. They scored each product based on its immediate and long-term hydrating power, its moisturising and brightening effects, and the overall texture and feel on the skin.
In the GHI lab, our expert testers used a Corneometer to measure skin hydration levels after initial application and then again six hours later.
These are the ceramide serums that delivered the most intense moisture boost.
AHC Hydrating Aqualuronic Face Serum
AHC Hydrating Aqualuronic Face Serum
Score: 88/100
Our winner is a great match for those with oily or dehydrated skin. Despite being lightweight in texture and soaking in speedily, it scored top marks in our lab tests for improving moisture levels, with almost all testers feeling more hydrated after using it.
The blend of ceramides and three types of hyaluronic acid improved smoothness for our panel, who also enjoyed a newfound radiance.
Key specifications
| Size | 30ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Normal, oily, dry skin |
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum
Paula's Choice Omega+ Complex Serum
Score: 85/100
This lotion-style serum excelled in our hydration lab tests and left most of our panel satisfied with their healthier-looking skin. Everyone said the omega-rich formula melted quickly into their skin without leaving a sticky residue and almost everyone experienced an irritation-free moisture shot.
Some of our testers also reported a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Key specifications
| Size | 30ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Normal, dry, mature skin |
Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum
Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum
Score: 85/100
Retinol is famous for its anti-ageing qualities, but it can cause dryness and peeling. This luxury serum blends ceramides with retinol to help combat that problem, giving you all the benefits of both ingredients in one product.
Our lab tests found it was successful at hydrating tired skin and our panellists said their complexions looked smoother and brighter after use. While only some thought it helped minimise fine lines, most agreed that their skin looked fresher after the trial period.
Key specifications
| Size | 50ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Dry, mature skin |
CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum
CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Score: 82/100
Mixing a renowned hydrating ingredient, hyaluronic acid, with three essential ceramides, this serum is here to save your parched skin. It felt calming to apply, impressing many of our testers with its soothing feel and an added rejuvenated glow.
It’s not fragranced, which those with sensitivities will appreciate, and it ramped up plumpness for our panel. Although it didn’t do much to fight fine lines or redness, almost the entire panel were left delighted with the myriad improvements to their skin’s condition.
Key specifications
| Size | 30ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Normal, dry, oily skin |
Kate Somerville DeliKate® Recovery Serum
Kate Somerville DeliKate® Recovery Serum
Score: 81/100
Regularly experiencing skin flare-ups and irritation for no apparent reason? Grab this serum. It aims to restore a damaged barrier with its blend of ceramides and omegas, and it left almost all our testers with suitably quenched skin.
It did the trick when it came to smoothing as well, and the panel found it helpful for calming stressed skin. Though not particularly effective at minimising the visibility of wrinkles, it didn’t trigger any irritation for anyone.
Key specifications
| Size | 30ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | All skin types |
Glow Hub Barrier Builder
Glow Hub Barrier Builder
Score: 81/100
Featuring a blend of ceramides and amino and fatty acids, this purse-friendly serum effectively calmed irritation for our panel.
It left the majority of testers with healthier-looking skin, and they also experienced ramped-up hydration, as backed up by its excellent lab test results. One tester even found it helped “enhance” the look of their foundation, giving them a fresh-faced, dewy appearance.
Key specifications
| Size | 30ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Acne-prone skin |
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum
Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum
Score: 80/100
Not only good for making guacamole, the much-loved avocado also offers some notable skincare benefits. Rich in good fats, it can help replenish your skin’s defences, especially when mixed with ceramides.
This vegan serum soothed and smoothed rough patches for our testers, leaving their skin looking brighter. Everybody loved its “light, pleasant” scent and said it gave their thirsty skin a much-needed dose of moisture.
Key specifications
| Size | 30ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Normal, dry skin |
Lumene Arctic Hydra Care Moisture & Relief Rich Oleo-Serum
Lumene Arctic Hydra Care Moisture & Relief Rich Oleo-Serum
Score: 79/100
Vegans, this offering from Finnish brand Lumene is also worth considering. Its blend of oat oils, ceramides and Nordic bilberry (known for reducing inflammation) helped cure dry skin for our testers.
It’s a good option for those with sensitive skin, too – it didn’t spark any irritation for almost all of our panel, who also found it soothing to massage in. Testers didn’t see a boost in radiance, but it did leave them with nourished skin.
Key specifications
| Size | 30ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Normal, dry, sensitive skin |
Tata Harper Superkind Bio-Barrier Serum
Tata Harper Superkind Bio-Barrier Serum
Score: 79/100
It’s pricey at over £100, but this hypoallergenic, essential oil-free formula is a miracle worker for those on the oilier spectrum. Featherlight yet effective, one tester described it as a “pot of calm for your skin”.
It de-escalated sensitivity for much of our panel and proved outstanding at promoting hydration levels in our lab tests. Don’t rely on it for addressing premature signs of ageing, but if you’re struggling with an oil-slick T-zone, rest assured that it’s not too heavy or greasy.
Key specifications
| Size | 30ml |
|---|---|
| Suitable for | Normal, dry, oily, sensitive skin |
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Orla is our Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester and has extensive knowledge of skin and hair composition thanks to her first class bachelor's degree in cosmetic science from the Universy of the Arts London. She also spent time as a Formulation Chemist intern at Amelia Knight Cosmetics.
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