Eight Ceramides & Nano-Vaseline
For anyone with chronically dry skin like mine, locking in moisture is mission-critical. Today I’d like to spotlight one of the lotions that keeps my face happy all year round.
What Makes CareCera AP Special?
CareCera AP positions itself as a “pre-lotion emulsion,” packing the series’ highest concentration of eight human-type ceramides. Even better, a 130 mL bottle costs only ¥1,600–1,900 and is stocked in virtually every Japanese drugstore and major e-commerce site—so grabbing a refill is never a hassle.
Ceramides: The Brick-and-Mortar Heroes
Imagine your stratum corneum as a brick wall. The bricks are skin cells; the mortar is intercellular lipids, and roughly half of that mortar is ceramides. When ceramides run low, water sneaks out and irritants stroll in.
Here’s the catch: variety matters. Think of different-sized sand grains filling every gap in concrete. Multiple ceramide species slot neatly into micro-spaces, sealing the wall far more effectively than a single type. That’s why CareCera AP crams eight kinds into one formula—the ultimate barrier patchwork.
“Nano-Vaseline,” Not a Greasy Lid
Glance at the ingredient list and you’ll see petrolatum sitting right after water. Sounds heavy, right? Not here. Rohto’s high-pressure emulsification tech shrinks petrolatum droplets to nanometer size—about 1/30 th the width of a pore.
The result is a weightless “moisture net” that:
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Spreads silk-smooth with zero greasy film
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Cushions the skin with long-lasting hydration
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Won’t block the pathways that let later water-based or oil-based products sink in
| Conventional Petrolatum | High-Pressure Nano Petrolatum |
|---|---|
| μm-thick oil blanket—acts like a lid | nm-thin network that smooths micro-texture while leaving hydrophilic channels open |
| Turns shiny and pills over time | Ultra-fine droplets blend with sebum and actually boost the feel of toners/serums |
How I Use It
I apply one or two pumps after all my other skincare, flipping the “pre-lotion” script and letting it play the final sealing role. Even in the dead of winter my cheeks stay flake-free till morning, and the fragrance-free formula never bothers my sensitive nose.
Because it’s so affordable, I also press a half-pump onto the backs of my hands, rub back-to-back, and voilà—instant hand cream without sticky palms. Perfect for quick moisture before and after housework.
