Phytosphingosine and Ceramides: What’s the Connection?

Phytosphingosine is a sphingoid base—a long-chain component of certain ceramides found in the stratum corneum, the skin’s outermost layer. It is not a ceramide by itself.

In CLERIVY, Phytosphingosine appears only in the Hydrocolloid Pimple Patch. It is an ingredient in the finished formula, not another name for hydrocolloid—the gel-forming material that makes up the patch.

Is Phytosphingosine a Ceramide?

No. A ceramide combines a sphingoid base with a fatty acid. Phytosphingosine is one possible base, so it can be part of certain ceramides without being a ceramide on its own.

On a cosmetic ingredient list, look for the name Phytosphingosine.

Why Is It Used in Cosmetics?

Cosmetic ingredient inventories cited by PubChem classify Phytosphingosine for skin-conditioning use. That describes the ingredient’s recognized cosmetic function. It does not mean that every formula containing it has been shown to restore or strengthen the skin barrier.

Which CLERIVY Patch Contains It?

Phytosphingosine is fourth in the seven-ingredient list. The complete order is Polyisobutene, Cellulose Gum, Salicylic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Allantoin, Panthenol, and Niacinamide.

Its position shows where it appears on the ingredient list, not its exact concentration.

It does not appear in the CLERIVY Microdart Spot Patch. That product has a different 15-ingredient patch formula and a separate six-ingredient prep pad.

The Research Behind the Ingredient

PubChem is a chemical database. It identifies Phytosphingosine and records its cosmetic use classification. The van Smeden review looks more broadly at the composition and organization of lipids in the stratum corneum.

Neither source tested topical Phytosphingosine, a hydrocolloid patch, or a CLERIVY product. They explain identity and skin-lipid context—not finished-product performance. CLERIVY’s finished-product studies are documented separately on Product Testing & Certifications.

Related Reading

• What Is Hydrocolloid? — the gel-forming patch material and why it turns opaque

• CLERIVY Hydrocolloid Pimple Patch — current sizes, directions, and the complete formula

• CLERIVY Ingredients Library — every current ingredient guide

Sources

• CLERIVY Hydrocolloid Pimple Patch — current ingredient list and product details (2026)

• PubChem: Phytosphingosine — chemical identity and cosmetic use classification

• van Smeden J. et al., “The important role of stratum corneum lipids for the cutaneous barrier function,” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1841 (2014): 295–313, doi:10.1016/j.bbalip.2013.11.006

The CLERIVY Hydrocolloid Pimple Patch is a cosmetic product. It is not intended to treat, prevent, or cure acne or any other medical condition.

Last updated: September 6, 2026