Ceramide NS (formerly Ceramide 2) is composed of sphingosine and non-hydroxy fatty acid. It is a major ceramide in the stratum corneum and serves as a fundamental building block of the skin barrier lipid matrix, working alongside Ceramide NP, AP, and EOP.
Key Skin Benefits
+ Core structural ceramide for skin barrier
+ Contributes to lamellar phase formation
+ Improves skin hydration and smoothness
+ Helps repair compromised barrier function
Pros
+ Major barrier ceramide (abundant in healthy skin)
+ Good complement to Ceramide NP in formulations
+ Non-irritating, suitable for sensitive skin
+ Part of the classic 3:1:1 ceramide:cholesterol:fatty acid ratio
Cons
− High cost
− Best results in specific lipid ratio formulations
− Not effective as a single ingredient
− Formulation stability challenges
Specifications
Property
Value
Usage Areas
Face, Eye, Body, Hair
Product Type
Leave-On, Rinse-Off
Source
Synthetic (biotech)
Natural Level
Synthetic (nature-identical)
Safety Ratings
Metric
Rating
Skin Sensitivity
0/5 (none)
Comedogenic Rating
0/5
EWG Score
1/10
Regional Regulatory Limits
Region
Leave-on %
Rinse-off %
Status
EU (CosIng)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
US (CIR/FDA)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
Japan (MHLW)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
ASEAN
No limit
No limit
Allowed
China (NMPA)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
Typical Usage % by Product Type
Product Type
Typical %
Barrier repair cream
0.01 - 0.1%
Moisturizer
0.01 - 0.05%
References
Meckfessel MH & Brandt S (2014) — Ceramides structure and function. PMID: 25278987
Coderch L et al. (2003) — Ceramides and skin function. PMID: 12558511