The Power Trio for Glowing Skin — NAD+, Peptides & Ceramides

"If your skincare routine feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. NAD+, peptides and ceramides are three ingredients I personally rely on for smoother, stronger and more resilient skin. In this guide, I break down why they work, how to use them, and which combinations bring visible, glow-giving results."

12/9/20253 min read

A pink bud with water droplets on dark green leaves.
A pink bud with water droplets on dark green leaves.

The three ingredients I can`t stop talking about

Healthy, glowing skin isn’t about having a 12-step routine or owning every product TikTok pushes. What I’ve learned—after way too many experiments—is that the most beautiful skin comes from focusing on a few ingredients that actually support your skin on a cellular level.

For me, three ingredients have consistently made a visible difference in how my skin behaves:
NAD+, peptides, and ceramides.

These aren’t trendy buzzwords. They’re research-backed, biologically meaningful, and easy to fit into almost any routine. If your skin feels dull, dehydrated, tired, or sensitized, this trio is one of the most reliable ways to bring back that healthy, plump, “I slept eight hours” glow.

Let me break down each one—and why I personally love them.

NAD+: The Ingredient for Energized, Youthful Skin

NAD+ is a coenzyme found in every single cell in your body. Think of it as fuel for the skin’s repair processes. As we age (and as stress levels rise), NAD+ naturally decreases. And when your skin doesn’t have enough NAD+, it shows:

  • slower repair

  • more redness and irritation

  • quicker moisture loss

  • dullness or uneven texture

When I started using NAD+ skincare, the first thing I noticed was how much more resilient my skin felt. Products didn’t sting as much. Redness calmed down. My skin barrier felt stronger. It’s not a “glow overnight” ingredient—it’s more like supporting the deeper foundation so your skin can behave younger.

What NAD+ does for the skin:

  • Boosts cellular repair

  • Protects against environmental damage

  • Reduces signs of fatigue

  • Improves firmness over time

If you’re building a routine that supports long-term skin health, NAD+ is one of the best places to start.

Peptides: The Builders of Smooth, Firm, Bouncy Skin

Peptides are short chains of amino acids—basically, tiny messengers that tell your skin to “make more of the good stuff.”
Collagen, elastin, hydration factors… peptides help stimulate all of it.

I turn to peptides when:

  • my skin looks flat

  • makeup isn’t sitting right

  • fine lines feel more pronounced

  • my skin is stressed from weather or exfoliation

Peptides give the skin that immediate bouncy, soft feel, but they also support long-term firmness. They layer extremely well with other ingredients, which makes them perfect for morning and evening routines.

What peptides do:

  • Improve firmness and elasticity

  • Smooth fine lines

  • Boost hydration

  • Make the skin feel instantly more plump

If ceramides are about barrier repair and NAD+ is about deep cellular energy, peptides are the ingredient that brings visible “surface results.”

Ceramides: The Barrier-Repairing, Glow-Supporting Heroes

If your skin ever feels tight, flaky, reactive, or easily irritated, chances are your barrier needs more ceramides.

Ceramides are the lipids (healthy fats) that form up to 50% of your skin’s moisture barrier. Without them, nothing else in your routine works the way it should.

I always think of ceramides as the ingredient that makes everything else easier:

  • your skin holds moisture better

  • sensitivity decreases

  • texture feels smoother

  • glow returns naturally

When I consistently use a ceramide-rich moisturizer or serum, my skin feels calmer and less reactive—even when the weather is dry or cold.

What ceramides do:

  • Strengthen the moisture barrier

  • Reduce irritation and redness

  • Prevent water loss

  • Keep skin smooth and supple

Every skin type benefits from ceramides—yes, even oily or acne-prone skin. A healthy barrier means balanced skin.

Why This Trio Works So Well Together

One of the reasons I love NAD+, peptides, and ceramides is that they don’t compete—they support each other:

  • NAD+ fuels repair from deep within

  • Peptides build structure at the surface

  • Ceramides protect and seal everything in

Together, they create skin that is:

  • more hydrated

  • more resilient

  • smoother

  • brighter

  • firmer

You don’t have to overhaul your routine—you can simply add these ingredients in serum or moisturizer form and let them do the work.

How to Use Them in a Routine

Here’s a simple way to include all three:

Morning:

  1. Gentle cleanser

  2. Peptide serum

  3. Ceramide moisturizer

  4. SPF (always)

Evening:

  1. Cleanser

  2. NAD+ serum (or a peptide/NAD+ combo serum)

  3. Ceramide-rich moisturizer

You can mix and match, but the trick is consistency, not complication.

My Experience Using This Trio

When I started using NAD+, peptides, and ceramides together, I wasn’t expecting a big change. But after a few weeks, my skin felt:

  • healthier

  • calm

  • deeply hydrated

  • more even in tone

  • less reactive to makeup or weather

It’s the kind of routine that keeps your skin looking good even when life gets busy.

Final Thoughts

If you want to simplify your skincare, avoid irritation, and still get real results, this trio is honestly one of the best ways to build a routine that works long-term.

It’s simple, effective, and rooted in actual skin biology—not trends.