N-Octadecanoylsphingosine

N-Octadecanoylsphingosine, commonly known as C18 Ceramide or Cer, is a naturally occurring sphingolipid composed of sphingosine linked to an octadecanoic acid chain. It carries no assigned E-code. In technical and formulation contexts it is abbreviated as C18 Cer or simply Ceramide.

In topical skincare formulations, C18 Ceramide restores the lamellar lipid structure of the stratum corneum, reducing transepidermal water loss by reinforcing the intercellular lipid matrix. In pharmaceutical lipid-based drug delivery systems, it modulates membrane fluidity and supports controlled release. Biotechnology researchers also use it to study apoptotic signalling pathways in cell membrane models.

C18 Ceramide is supplied as a white to off-white powder suitable for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and research-grade applications. Material intended for personal care use is subject to REACH registration requirements within the EU. Standard packaging formats for B2B supply include gram-scale research quantities through to kilogram lots for industrial formulation.