Promising

Beta-glucan

Soothes, hydrates and reinforces the barrier; very well tolerated.

What the evidence says

Promising but still-limited human evidence.

Best forSensitive, dehydrated skin
INCI namesBeta-Glucan · Beta Glucan · Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
Evidence basisTopical β-glucan wound-healing data (PMC6855293)

How to use it

Morning and night, usually in soothing essences and serums. It's a large molecule that forms a hydrating, protective film over the skin — perfect after exfoliating or when the barrier is compromised.

What it pairs with

With everything; natural synergy with hyaluronic acid, panthenol and centella in repair routines.

Frequently asked questions

Does beta-glucan hydrate better than hyaluronic acid?

Some manufacturers claim so citing old in-vitro data, but there are no robust clinical head-to-heads. What is distinctive: besides being a humectant, it's soothing (it interacts with the skin's immune receptors). For reactive skin, pick beta-glucan; for pure hydration, call it a tie.

Where does it come from?

From the cell walls of oats, yeast or mushrooms. The yeast- and mushroom-derived kind is the usual one in Korean cosmetics, and it's vegan.

Products with beta-glucan in the comparator

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