Betaine
Humectant
Betaine at a glance
- Helps skin adapt to moisture losses and gains, essentially working to balance skin’s hydration
- New research shows promise as a topical ingredient to visibly correct uneven skin tone
- Known to be gentle on skin
- May be plant-derived or synthetic
- Also occurs naturally in skin and the body
Betaine description
Betaine is a humectant (hydration-optimizing) ingredient that may be plant-derived or synthetic. It also occurs naturally in skin and the body. It’s known as an osmolyte, an ingredient that helps skin adapt to moisture losses and gains, essentially working to balance skin’s hydration. Betaine is often included in cleansing blends because of its gentle soothing nature that helps offset the potential irritating effects of detergents. It’s also used as a hair conditioning ingredient. Newer research indicates betaine shows promise as a topical ingredient to visibly correct uneven skin tone. More studies are needed to confirm this effect, but so far, the results look encouraging. The 2018 Cosmetic Ingredient Review of betaine concluded that this ingredient is safe. Their report surveyed personal care products containing amounts up to 8.7%.
