Ceramide 3 or Ceramide NP is a lipid molecule belonging to the specific species of ceramides, the main constituents of the human skin's defence barrier and lipids in the stratum corneum where it has the ability to form stable lamellar structures Ceramide NP is a ceramide containing non-hydroxy fatty acids and phytosphingosines, unlike Ceramide NH, Ceramide NS and Ceramide AS which contain different fats.  

It takes the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics - Pharmaceutical

Hair conditioning agent. A large number of ingredients with specific purposes can co-exist in a hair shampoo: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, mattifying agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersing agents that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioners includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners.

Skin conditioning agent - Miscellaneous.  Ingredient that has the task of modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing its flakiness and restoring its elasticity.

In a study to evaluate the potential water retention capacity of an oil-water emulsion, Ceramide 3 (Ceramide NP) was shown to exert a beneficial synergistic effect on the biochemical properties of the skin, such as skin hydration and protection from irritation by surfactants (1). A subsequent study confirmed the ability of Ceramide NP to restore barrier function impaired by topical corticosteroids. (2).

For more information:

Ceramide NP studies

• Molecular Formula  C₃₆H₇₁NO₄
• Molercular Weight    582.0 
• CAS  100403-19-8  72968-43-5  178436-06-1    
• UNII    4370DF050B
• EC Number   812-963-1    309-560-3
• DSSTox Substance ID  
• IUPAC  (Z)-N-[(2S,3S,4R)-1,3,4-trihydroxyoctadecan-2-yl]octadec-9-enamide
• InChI=1S/C36H71NO4/c1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15-17-18-19-21-23-25-27-29-31-35(40)37-33(32-38)36(41)34(39)30-28-26-24-22-20-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2/h17-18,33-34,36,38-39,41H,3-16,19-32H2,1-2H3,(H,37,40)/b18-17-/t33-,34+,36-/m0/s1  
• InChl Key    ATGQXSBKTQANOH-UWVGARPKSA-N  
• SMILES   CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(C(C(CO)NC(=O)CCCCCCCC=CCCCCCCCC)O)O
• MDL number  
• PubChem Substance ID    

Synonyms:

• (Z)-N-[(2S,3S,4R)-1,3,4-trihydroxyoctadecan-2-yl]octadec-9-enamide
• N-oleoylphytosphingosine
• Ceramide 3
• Ceramide IIIB

References______________________________________________________________________

(1) Huang HC, Chang TM. Ceramide 1 and ceramide 3 act synergistically on skin hydration and the transepidermal water loss of sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin. Int J Dermatol. 2008 Aug;47(8):812-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2008.03687.x.

(2) Lim SH, Kim EJ, Lee CH, Park GH, Yoo KM, Nam SJ, Shin KO, Park K, Choi EH. A Lipid Mixture Enriched by Ceramide NP with Fatty Acids of Diverse Chain Lengths Contributes to Restore the Skin Barrier Function Impaired by Topical Corticosteroid. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2021 Jul 19. doi: 10.1159/000518517.