Last updated: October 2026
Short answer: They do different jobs. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that draws water into the outer layer of skin. Ceramides are fats your skin already makes: they account for about 45% to 50% of the lipids (fats and oils) in skin's outer barrier by weight and help hold that barrier together so water stays in. If your skin feels tight and dehydrated, hyaluronic acid helps. If it's rough, stings, or reacts easily, ceramides target the barrier. Many moisturizers for dry skin use both.
At a glance
| Ceramides | Hyaluronic acid | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Barrier lipid (emollient, a skin-softening fat) | Humectant |
| Main job | Help restore the fats between skin cells | Draws water into the outer layer |
| In your skin | About 45–50% of outer-layer lipids by weight, with cholesterol (~25%) and free fatty acids (10–15%) | Also made by the body |
| Best for | Rough, flaky, easily irritated skin | Skin that feels tight or dehydrated |
| Often paired with | Cholesterol, fatty acids, phytosphingosine (a ceramide building block) | Glycerin, panthenol (vitamin B5) |
| On a label | Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NS | Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate |
What ceramides are
The outer layer of your skin is often compared to a brick wall: skin cells are the bricks and a mix of fats is the mortar. Ceramides are the biggest part of that mortar. By weight, the lipids in the outer layer are about 45–50% ceramides, 25% cholesterol and 10–15% free fatty acids.
A dermatology review states that ceramides restore skin water permeability and barrier function, and that low ceramide levels are a major factor in skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema). That's why barrier creams often combine ceramides with cholesterol and fatty acids, in roughly the proportions skin uses.
What hyaluronic acid does
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, a water magnet. In a placebo-controlled trial, creams with 0.1% hyaluronic acid at five different molecular weights all significantly improved skin hydration and elasticity after 60 days. It doesn't repair the barrier itself, though. Water it draws into the outer layer can still escape if the barrier is weak.
Which one do you need?
Think about the problem you're trying to solve:
- Skin feels tight after washing but looks fine: a humectant such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin, followed by a moisturizer.
- Skin is rough, flaky, stings when you put products on, or cracks: a barrier-focused cream with ceramides or other lipids, ideally fragrance-free.
- Both: very common in winter. Use a product with both, or layer a hyaluronic acid serum under a ceramide cream.
The American Academy of Dermatology's general advice for dry skin still applies: a cream or ointment, fragrance-free, applied to damp skin.
How to find them on a label
Ceramides are usually listed by letter codes: Ceramide NP (once called Ceramide 3), Ceramide AP and Ceramide EOP. They're used in small amounts, so they often appear after the 1% line. Hyaluronic acid usually shows up near the end, too. Paste a list into the Ingredient Label Decoder to see where the 1% line likely falls.
Check your own moisturizer. Paste its ingredient list into our free Ingredient Label Decoder to find the likely 1% line, see a rough percentage for each ingredient, and learn what each one does.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use ceramides or hyaluronic acid for dry skin?
It depends on the problem. Hyaluronic acid draws water into skin, while ceramides help repair the skin barrier that keeps water in. Rough, easily irritated skin usually benefits most from barrier lipids such as ceramides; many people use both.
Can you use ceramides and hyaluronic acid together?
Yes. They work in different ways and are often combined in the same moisturizer. If layering, apply the hyaluronic acid serum first and the ceramide cream on top.
What percentage of skin lipids are ceramides?
About 45% to 50% of the lipids in the outer layer of skin are ceramides by weight, with about 25% cholesterol and 10% to 15% free fatty acids.
More ingredient comparisons
- Glycerin vs. Hyaluronic Acid: Which Humectant Is Better for Dry Skin?
- Fragrance-Free vs. Unscented: What the Labels Really Mean
- Urea vs. Lactic Acid for Rough, Dry Skin
- See all ingredient comparisons
Sources
- BioNumbers (Harvard Medical School): Lipid composition of the stratum corneum, citing Madison KC, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2003;121(2):231-41. https://bionumbers.hms.harvard.edu/bionumber.aspx?id=113174
- Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T. The Role of Moisturizers in Addressing Various Kinds of Dermatitis: A Review. Clinical Medicine & Research. 2017;15(3-4):75-87. https://www.clinmedres.org/content/15/3-4/75
- Pavicic T, Gauglitz GG, Lersch P, et al. Efficacy of Cream-Based Novel Formulations of Hyaluronic Acid of Different Molecular Weights in Anti-Wrinkle Treatment. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2011;10(9):990-1000. https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961611P0990X
- American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
About this page
We wrote this comparison from the sources listed above and confirmed each figure on the linked page in October 2026. It is general information, not medical advice. If you have painful, cracked, bleeding or persistent skin problems, see a doctor or dermatologist.
Corium 21 is a family-owned company that makes a moisturizing cream with certified organic aloe vera. Trusted since 1994. Family-owned in Oregon. It is a cosmetic moisturizer: it moisturizes and helps relieve dryness. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.