Ingredient spotlight · Plant-derived ceramides in Health Royals’ beauty complete · 5 min read
Why dry skin is not only about adding moisture, and what oral ceramide research can tell us about the barrier that helps retain it.
Key takeaways
• Ceramides form an important part of the lipid structure that helps the skin barrier reduce water loss.
• Human research has investigated a wheat-derived polar lipid complex in relation to skin hydration, elasticity, water loss and wrinkle-related measures.
• Beauty Complete provides 30 mg Ceramosides™ daily, the same amount used for the powder form in the published human study.
Dry skin is not always only about needing more moisture.
Sometimes, the more important question is how well the skin can hold on to it.
The outermost layer of the skin is not simply a surface. It is a highly organised protective barrier that helps limit water loss and forms the boundary between the body and the outside world.
A large part of that barrier is made from lipids.
Among the most important are ceramides.
Hydration depends not only on bringing water to the skin, but also on the structure that helps keep it there.
What do ceramides do in the skin?
The outermost layer of the skin is called the stratum corneum.
It is often explained through a simple analogy: the skin cells are the bricks, while the lipids surrounding them form the mortar.
This lipid matrix is made primarily from ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids.
Together, they form an organised structure around the skin cells and help maintain the integrity of the barrier.
When the barrier is functioning well, it helps reduce the amount of water that escapes through the skin.
When the lipid structure becomes depleted or disrupted, water may be lost more easily and the skin can feel dry, tight or less supple.
This movement of water through the skin and into the surrounding environment is known as transepidermal water loss, or TEWL.
Ceramides do not add water to the skin. They form part of the barrier that helps the skin retain it.
What changes with age and menopause?
The skin barrier is not biologically static.
Its structure and lipid composition change over time, and research has shown that ceramide levels within the outer skin layer can decline with age.
Environmental exposure, particularly ultraviolet radiation, can also influence the organisation and condition of the barrier.
Menopause adds another layer to this story.
Hormonal changes can affect skin lipid metabolism, hydration and barrier function. This may help explain why many women notice greater dryness, discomfort and reduced suppleness during and after the menopausal transition.
These changes are not simply about having less water in the skin.
They also concern how effectively the outer layer is able to retain moisture and maintain its protective structure.
As skin changes with age, the lipids within its barrier become increasingly relevant.
Can ceramides be studied from within?
Topical ceramides are already familiar in skincare.
More recently, researchers have explored whether selected plant-derived lipid complexes can also influence measurable skin outcomes when taken orally.
These ingredients are often described as phytoceramides.
The term refers broadly to plant-derived ceramide-related lipids used in beauty and nutritional formulations.
But “phytoceramides” on an ingredient list does not tell us the source, composition, daily amount or whether the specific material has been studied.
This is where Ceramosides™ becomes more relevant.
The plant category creates familiarity. The defined ingredient and its research provide the context.
What did 56 days of research find?
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated a wheat-derived polar lipid complex in 72 women with dry skin and mild-to-moderate signs of skin ageing.
Participants received either the lipid complex in oil form, the powder form used in Beauty Complete, or placebo for 56 days.
The powder form was studied at 30 mg daily.
Researchers assessed several aspects of skin condition, including moisturisation, transepidermal water loss, elasticity, smoothness, roughness and wrinkle depth.
The study included postmenopausal women in each group, making the research particularly relevant to a stage of life when changes in skin lipids and barrier function can become more noticeable.
In the postmenopausal subgroup receiving the 30 mg powder form, the reported changes from baseline after 56 days included approximately:
17.8% higher skin moisturisation
17.0% lower transepidermal water loss
11.0% higher skin elasticity
9.9% lower wrinkle depth
These figures relate to the postmenopausal subgroup and should be interpreted in the context of its smaller sample size.
The overall pattern was consistent with the wider study population, although subgroup findings naturally involve greater variability.
The research looked beyond moisture alone, examining hydration, water retention, elasticity and visible skin characteristics together.
Why do the specific ingredient and dose matter?
Ceramosides™ is a patented wheat-derived polar lipid complex developed for oral beauty formulations.
It contains a defined combination of wheat lipids, including sphingolipids such as glucosylceramides, together with other polar lipids.
Its significance is not simply that it contains plant-derived ceramide-related lipids.
It is that the specific complex has been studied in people at defined daily amounts.
Beauty Complete provides 30 mg Ceramosides™ daily, matching the amount used for the powder form in the published study.
Using the studied ingredient at the corresponding amount does not mean that every person will experience identical results.
Skin dryness and ageing are influenced by many factors, including age, menopause, climate, skincare, sun exposure and individual biology.
It does, however, give the formula a more meaningful basis than including an unspecified quantity of generic phytoceramides.
The ingredient name is only the beginning. Source, composition, dose and human research define what is actually being used.
The ingredient at a glance
A studied wheat-derived polar lipid complex developed around skin hydration and barrier quality.
Form
Wheat-derived polar lipid complex
Daily amount
30 mg Ceramosides™
Ingredient source
Ceramosides™ by Seppic, France
How Ceramosides™ fits into the complete formula
Beauty Complete was designed around complementary aspects of skin quality rather than moisture alone.
Ceramosides™ forms the barrier-focused part of the formula at the studied daily amount of 30 mg.
It is combined with Cartidyss® marine cartilage complex and Hyabest® sodium hyaluronate.
Cartidyss® was selected for the formula’s structural story, while Hyabest® forms the hydration centre.
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin.
Riboflavin and biotin contribute to the maintenance of normal skin, while vitamin C and riboflavin contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
Each ingredient has a distinct role.
Structure, hydration and barrier support are brought together in one considered daily beauty formula.
Discover Health Royals’ beauty complete
References
Bizot, V.; Cestone, E.; Michelotti, A.; Nobile, V. Improving skin hydration and age-related symptoms by oral administration of wheat glucosylceramides and digalactosyl diglycerides: a human clinical study. Cosmetics. 2017;4(4):37.
Kern, C.; Dudonné, S.; Garcia, C. Dietary supplementation with a wheat polar lipid complex improves skin conditions in women with dry skin and mild-to-moderate skin ageing. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2024;23:1320–1330. DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16130.
Seppic. Ceramosides™ ingredient composition and clinical research information.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It summarises ingredient characteristics, published research and manufacturer-provided information. Individual needs and experiences may vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional with questions about supplementation, allergies, medication or personal health.
