The 2:4:2 ratio explained: ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids
Short answer: the numbers in SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 are percentages. The cream contains 2% pure ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol and 2% fatty acids. These are the three types of lipid that make up the skin's own barrier, and the formula puts cholesterol in the largest share because that is the ratio studied for ageing skin.
Last updated: 9 October 2026.
What the skin barrier is made of
The outer layer of the skin is often described as bricks and mortar. The bricks are flattened skin cells. The mortar is a mix of lipids that fills the spaces between them and slows the loss of water. That mortar is made of three families of lipid:
- Ceramides, which make up roughly half of it by weight.
- Cholesterol, roughly a quarter.
- Free fatty acids, most of the remainder.
All three are needed. Skin makes less of them as it ages, which is one reason mature skin tends to feel drier and look less smooth.
Why the ratio matters
Research on barrier repair in the 1990s found that it is not enough to apply one of these lipids on its own. In laboratory studies, applying a single lipid, or an incomplete mix, could slow the barrier's recovery, while a mix of all three allowed it to recover normally (Man and colleagues, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1996).
The same group then looked at older skin. They reported that a mix with cholesterol as the dominant lipid improved barrier recovery in chronologically aged skin, whereas the mix that worked best in young skin did not have the same effect (Zettersten and colleagues, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1997).
That is the idea behind 2:4:2. Cholesterol is given the largest share, with ceramides and fatty acids alongside it.
What is in Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
| Lipid | Amount | What it does in the formula |
|---|---|---|
| Pure ceramides | 2% | Replenish the main structural lipid of the barrier |
| Natural cholesterol | 4% | The dominant lipid in the ratio studied for ageing skin |
| Fatty acids | 2% | Complete the three-lipid mix |
You can see the full details on the Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 product page.
Who it suits
Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is a rich cream for normal, dry and ageing skin. It is a good fit if your skin feels dry or tight, or looks less smooth than it used to. If your skin is oily or combination, a lighter moisturiser such as Daily Moisture is usually more comfortable. You can compare the options in our moisturisers collection.
How to use it
Use it twice a day. After cleansing and serums, warm a small amount between your fingertips and apply to the face, neck and chest. In the morning, finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
It layers well over a vitamin C serum such as C E Ferulic in the morning, and over retinol in the evening.
Questions we are asked
Does 2:4:2 mean a ratio or percentages?
Both. The formula contains 2%, 4% and 2% of the three lipids, which gives a 2:4:2 ratio between them.
Is a ceramide cream enough on its own?
Ceramides are one of three lipids in the barrier. The research described above suggests a complete mix matters more than any single lipid.
Is Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 a moisturiser?
Yes. It is used as the moisturiser step, after serums and before sunscreen.
Is it still available in the UK?
Yes. It has been hard to find at times. See our UK stock update.
Sources
- Man MQ, Feingold KR, Thornfeldt CR, Elias PM. Optimization of physiological lipid mixtures for barrier repair. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1996.
- Zettersten EM, Ghadially R, Feingold KR, Crumrine D, Elias PM. Optimal ratios of topical stratum corneum lipids improve barrier recovery in chronologically aged skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1997.