Have you noticed how your skin shrivels up like an old prune when it’s not hydrated? All the retinol + exfoliation in the world won’t smooth it out. If anything, they’ll make things 10x worse.
What dry skin needs is a dollop of ceramides, little plasters that can patch up any hole in your skin’s protective barrier. Keep that moisture in and that shrivelled prune will blossom into a smooth rose. Lately, I’ve been getting my ceramide fix from Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex Serum (the unscented version). Here’s how it went and whether you should grab a bottle too:
Key Ingredients In Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex Serum: What Makes It Work?
CERAMIDES TO PROTECT SKIN
Think of ceramides as the mortar that holds your skin cells together. These oily waxes create a protective barrier on your skin that keeps moisture in and germs and pollutants out. Ceramides make up a staggering 50% of your skin’s composition. It’s no wonder that when your skin doesn’t have enough, it gets drier and flaky.
What robs skin of ceramides? Like everything else, ceramides slowly deplete as you get older. But unprotected sun exposure, harsh winds, and over-exfoliation (all the usual culprits) can weaken the mortar that holds skin cells together and break down its protective barrier. This is why I always double down on ceramides during winter, when the harsh weather is more prone to drying out your skin worse than the Sahara.
Related: Are Ceramides The Key To Healthy Skin?
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
Red: What is this doing here?!
Aloe Vera Gel: Made up of 99% water, it’s super hydrating. The remaining 1% has soothing properties that reduce redness and irritations.
Spring Water: The main solvent in the product, it dissolves other ingredients. While it’s at it, it hydrates skin too.
Liposomes (Soy): It has antioxidant properties that slow down premature aging.
Leucidal SF (Lactobacillis Ferment): A probiotic ingredient that moisturises and soothes skin. It also has preservative properties.
Coconut AMTicide: A preservative that inhibits the growth of fungi in your skincare products.
Prickly Pear Oil: A natural oil rich in fatty acids and antioxidants. It moisturises skin, strengthens its protective barrier against environmental aggressors, fights wrinkles, and even soothes inflammation.
Texture
Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex Serum is as transparent as a gel and almost as runny as water. It spreads easily onto the skin and absorbs in a couple of minutes without leaving a greasy residue behind.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free, so anyone can use it (even sensitive skin). I always appreciate when brands leave this irritant out. But if you really must use a scented serum, Garden of Wisdom makes another version with a light scent (I haven’t tried it, so can’t tell you exactly how it smells).
How To Use It
If you keep your skin routine simple, you can apply it directly on cleansed, damp skin. If you’re using anti-aging serums (like retinol or Vitamin C), apply this afterwards. You can use it up to twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Packaging
Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex Serum comes in a dark bottle with a pump applicator to keep the formula safe and effective for long.
Personal Use & Opinion
I apply Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex Serum every morning before I leave the house and every evening when I go to bed. It makes my skin incredibly softer and smoother. When I touch my face, it feels silky smooth and a little tighter, too. I noticed that if I leave the house without this on, my cheeks get a little red from the cold London winds. That’s a little reminder to up my skin’s defences at this time of year. This serum is perfect for this.
It only has a sprinkle of antioxidants, but for once I don’t mind. I can use a separate serum for that. But all the best anti-aging ingredients won’t make me look younger if my skin isn’t well hydrated. This serum takes care of the basics (moisture), so you can build the rest of your skincare routine on top of it.
Related: Do You Need Anti-Aging Skincare Products If Your Skin Is Well Hydrated?
What I Like About Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex
Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
Fragrance-free
Deeply moisturises dry skin
Protects skin from environmental aggressors
Practical packaging
What I DON’T Like About Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex
Limited anti-aging properties
Who Should Use This?
Dry skin
Sensitive skin
Anyone with a broken skin barrier (either from harsh weather or skincare products)
If your skin is naturally soft, plump, and hydrated (lucky you!), you don’t NEED this, but you can still use it for skin maintenance, especially in winter.
Does Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex Serum Live Up To The Claims?
CLAIM
TRUE?
Hydrating.
Yes.
With aging, skin loses its youthful moisture, suppleness, and smoothness, thanks to the loss of essential ceramide molecules.
Yes.
Price & Availability
$8.80 at Garden Of Wisdom
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you have dry and easily irritated skin – tell tale signs your skin’s protective barrier has broken down in places – Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex Serum will help. I also think it’s a good idea to keep a ceramide-rich serum or moisturizer at hand in winter, in case the weather wreaks havoc on your skin.
Dupes & Alternatives
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($20.99): It uses humectants that hyaluronic acid and glycerin to attract water into your skin and ceramides to moisturise skin without adding more oil to it. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Dermstore, and Ulta.
Paula’s Choice Resist 10% Niacinamide Booster ($42.00): It shrinks your pores, hydrates your skin, and brightens the complexion. Plus, it’s full of antioxidants (including Vitamin C) to help you keep those pesky premature wrinkles at bay, too. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK
Have you tried Garden Of Wisdom Ceramide Hydrating Complex Serum? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Aloe Vera Gel, Spring Water, Ceramide Complex, Liposomes (Soy), Leucidal SF (Lactobacillis Ferment), Coconut AMTicide, Prickly Pear Oil
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
