The skincare & beauty industry has transformed over the past few years with the use of clean & skin-friendly ingredients in the formulations. An underrated ingredient hero that is less mentioned than its peers is ECTOIN NATURAL. As a skincare loyal, the ingredient wraps with it a multitude of benefits with skin barrier repair & hydrating dominating the charts.
Skincare formulations like a serum, moisturizer, facial cleaners, etc. with Ectoin Natural is the hydration hero you need to rescue your skin. It’s the ultimate ingredient to include in your skincare routine to maintain a healthy skin barrier. Let’s get up and close with Ectoin, shall we?
What is ECTOIN Natural?
Ectoin is a 100% natural molecule, also known as extremolyte, produced through a sustainable fermentation process. It is a potent, well-researched, and efficient stress-protection molecule. Scientifically, it protects the microorganisms living under extreme conditions like hot springs, arctic ice, deep sea, etc. from stress.
The extremolyte is a low molecular weight molecule that accumulates water and protects against dehydration under environmental stress. Ectoin, hence in skin care, is a part of cosmetic science and formulation as it accumulates high water concentration and boosts cellular hydration. In short, it keeps skin hydrated.
Owing to its stress-protection property, Ectoin is used in skincare formulations that help with barrier repair, hydrates skin, protects against pollution, and soothes skin. It’s slowly penetrating its way into the clean beauty industry and standing along with super ingredients like retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, and others.
We recommend: Hydration Booster Face Moisturizer
Use of Ectoin Natural in Skincare
As a hydrating molecule that enhances the skin barrier, Ectoin Natural is super beneficial for the skin. Backed by scientific research and evidence, it is one of the ingredients that helps reduce trans-epidermal water loss and locks in moisture. Here are some of the benefits of Ectoin Natural.
Protects against UV and Pollution
Ectoin has a self-defense strategy that ultimately helps with repairing the skin barrier. It has an anti-aging property that repairs and improves damaged, stressed, and aged skin. It reduces stress from UV rays and hence reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and premature sagging of skin. Ectoin is known to soften wrinkles, prevent photoaging, and delay the skin aging process.
Hydrates and moisturizes skin
Ectoin is a water-carrier molecule and attracts water molecules into the skin. It offers long-term hydration as it releases water into the skin when the skin needs it. Ectoin is the star molecule that prevents dehydration at the cellular level while deeply hydrating and plumping the skin. A study indicated that 0.5 to 1% Ectoin in skincare formulation increased skin hydration by up to 200% in just 8 days, maintaining the moisture level.
Reduces redness and itchiness
The section-enriched moisturizer, serum, or cream is loaded with anti-inflammatory properties. As it repairs the skin barrier, it plays a crucial role in calming irritation and inflammation. A stabilized skin barrier helps with relieving itchiness and redness, often a suitable agent for skin concerns like dermatitis. As a stress mediator, it prevents rashes and breakouts. It is known to maintain a healthy skin microbiome that protects the skin.
Evens tone and firms skin
There is little scientific research that indicates that Ectoin is effective in reducing skin discolorations by inhibiting melanin synthesis. It does so by downregulating tyrosinase activity which is an enzyme responsible for melanin production. Ectoin even skin tone fades hyperpigmentation and reduces dark spots. Also, it keeps the skin structure intact by protecting proteins like collagen and elastic and shielding skin cells against daily stressors.
