Where can we find osmolytes in nature?

Osmolytes can be found in plants

Plants

use osmolytes in dry environment. They load their cells with organic osmolytes to increase water retention within the cells.

Osmolytes Found in Marine Animals

Marine Animals

use osmolytes to match the osmolarity of the surroundings and to counteract the effect of hydrostatic pressure.

Osmolytes Found in Mammals

Mammals

Osmolytes are found in high concentration in the kidneys of many mammals to help balance the blood osmolarity.

Osmolytes are molecules with the ability to manage water balance in living cells

Water is key to healthy skin

The stratum corneum contains 13% water on average. When this level drops, the skin can become dry and flaky, leading to a compromised barrier function. Maintaining optimal hydration is essential for preserving the skin’s integrity.

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Supports skin metabolism

Water is essential for the skin’s metabolic processes, including keratinization, where keratin proteins form the outer layer of the skin.

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Ensures correct enzyme function

Enzymes in the skin require water to function correctly. This is crucial for processes like desquamation, where old skin cells are shed to make way for new ones.

A person in a gym lifting a dumbbell with one arm while standing in front of a mirror.

Maintains tissue elasticity

Water helps maintain the elasticity and suppleness of skin tissues, keeping the skin flexible and resilient.

Close-up of skin with water droplets.

Preserves skin barrier functions

Water plays a vital role in preserving the skin’s barrier functions, which protect against microbial, physical, and mechanical threats.

When skin is dehydrated, keratinocytes are in hyperosmotic stress

Osmolytes are key to osmoprotection

What is Osmoprotection in Skin Care?
Osmolytes help balance water in cells

Water Balance

Osmolytes have the ability to manage water balance in cells and protect them from dehydration in stress conditions like UV stress or hyperosmotic stress. ​

When the skin is dry, the keratinocytes are in hyperosmotic stress, they react by synthetizing specific osmolyte transporters on their cell membrane to increase the intake of osmolytes. Then by osmosis, water follows the osmolytes and help the keratinocytes to recover their volume and survive from dehydration.​

By supporting the water flow in skin, osmolytes are good skin moisturizers.

Osmolytes help strengthen skin barrier

Skin Barrier

Tight junctions (TJs) are protein structures that connect neighboring cells, specifically keratinocytes, in the skin. They play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and cohesion of the skin barrier. By strengthening the connections between these cells, TJs help to prevent water loss through the epidermis and maintain proper skin hydration levels.

Osmolytes such as Betaine increases the expression of TJ proteins (Claudin-1, Claudin-4 and Occludin) which improves the strength of TJ and reduces the skin permeability.

Osmolytes help protect proteins

Protein Stability

Osmolytes are called “chemical chaperone”, they protect proteins from denaturation by increasing the thermodynamic stability of their native folded state. This stabilization is crucial for maintaining the proteins function under stress conditions.​

Osmolytes attracts water away from the protein backbone, which allows the protein to stay in a 3D folded conformation, protecting its core from denaturation. ​

Spotlight: Betaine

GENENCARE® OSMS BA natural# betaine is a moisturizing osmolyte sustainably sourced bioactive extracted from sugar beet and upcycled from a sugar production side stream.

GENENCARE OSMS BA Betaine improves moisturization

Moisturization

According to a clinical study on volunteers with dry skin, GENENCARE® OSMS BA betaine contributes to significantly improve skin moisturization up to 6 hours and reduce visual dryness up to 24 hours after a single application1. ​

GENENCARE OSMS BA Betaine improves long-term moisturization

Strengthens Skin Barrier

According to a clinical study on volunteers, GENENCARE® OSMS BA betaine contributes to significantly reduce Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) over 4 weeks of daily use, with a remaining effect of a few days after the last application. ​
Reduction of the TEWL is an indication of a stronger skin barrier.

Betaine Synergy with Glycerin

Synergy with Glycerin

According to a sensory evaluation by trained experts, GENENCARE® OSMS BA contributes to significantly reduce the sticky feeling of glycerin during pick up and application and helps provide a silky feeling2. ​
In rinse-off formulas, it helps to improve the foam volume and stability.

Download our comprehensive study on the synergy between betaine and glycerin

Download Betaine Glycerin synergy study

Concept Formulations Featuring Osmolytes

IFF Xelestia HydraPearl Face Serum

HydraPearl Face Serum

A translucent gel with suspended blue oil droplets, this formula features osmolytes to moisturize, protect and energize your skin.

Oum Neck and Body Serum

Neck & Body Serum

Enriched with a high amount of GENENCARE® OSMS MI known for increasing skin elasticity and firmness.

Up! Clay Mask Stick cosmetic formulation

Clay Mask Stick

This solid mask features natural inositol to help energize and oxygenate the skin while contributing to improve skin elasticity.

IFF Foam Body Lotion Xelestia Cosmetic Formulation

Foam Body Lotion

A foam-format leave-on body lotion containing the moisturizing osmolyte GENENCARE® OSMS BA.

References

[1] Formulated in an emulsion, compared to control
[2] 5 minutes after-feel, mix of powdery and silicone feeling
#All references to “natural” are according to ISO 16128 calculation

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Osmolytes for Moisturization and Protection Benefits in Skin and Haircare

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Benefits of Natural Betaine For Skin and Hair Care

Benefits of Natural Betaine For Skin and Hair Care