What is ectoin? Dermatologists explain the benefits of this anti-aging skin care ingredient

Whether you’re a skin care nerd or dipping your toes into it for the first time, you’ve likely heard of hyaluronic acid, and you’ve probably familiar with niacinamide. But if you’re looking to take your skin care routine to the next level, there’s a not-so-new kid on the block worth looking into: ectoin, an amino acid derivative that protects microorganisms living under extreme and harsh conditions.

Due to its ability to protect the skin against environmental stressors, it’s now being incorporated more frequently into skin care products, according to Dr. Nowell Solish, director of dermatologic surgery at the University of Toronto and board-certified dermatologist at Indeed Labs. “It’s also especially helpful for those with dry, reactive, sensitive or more mature skin, as it penetrates deeper layers and helps soothe and hydrate the skin,” says Dr. Jeannette Graf, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Let’s take a deeper look into what ectoin is, who it’s right for, how to incorporate it into your unique routine and all that other good stuff.

What is ectoin?

According to Dr. Stefani Kappel, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MDAire, ectoin is a naturally occurring compound derived from single-cell bacteria that can be found in the most extreme environments around the world (think: salt lakes in the Egyptian desert). “It’s what’s known as an extremolyte,” Kappel says. “It protects organisms against dehydration, extreme temperatures and a host of other environmental factors by providing a natural protective component on the outer layer of cells.” While ectoin has been around since time immemorial, she says it’s only recently been added to skin care routines as an active ingredient — and due to its limitless benefits, our skin is thankful for that.

The benefits of ectoin

Ectoin (sometimes spelled ectoine) is a true multitasker with “outstanding, clinically proven efficacy,” says Solish. Namely, he says it makes for an incredible anti-aging ingredient for the way it “reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin texture, increases skin elasticity and promotes skin barrier repair.” Solish says it also helps protect the skin from damage caused by UV radiation, pollution and other environmental factors. As a natural moisturizer, it can help hydrate and soothe dry, damaged and irritated skin.

Kappel says the primary benefit of using ectoin as an active in your skin care routine is that “it has the ability to bind water and reduce transepidermal water loss. This locks in moisture and stabilizes the skin barrier,” she says. Because it reduces the impact of the sun’s harmful rays, it helps fight inflammation, which means less crepe-y and overall smoother skin.

How ectoin compares to other ingredients

According to Graf, ectoin has similar benefits to other popular ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide “in that they are all hydrating agents that greatly aid the skin’s appearance and overall texture,” she says. Where they differ is that only ectoin helps reduce inflammation and soothe skin with its antioxidant properties and can help repair deeper parts of the skin. She explains this makes ectoin a superior anti-aging product.

Instead of, say, swapping out any of the above (or other) existing ingredients in your skin care routine for ectoin, you might want to simply add ectoin into the mix. “Ectoin acts as a great team player with other ingredients,” says Solish. “It works well with other moisturizing ingredients including humectants like hyaluronic acid, and soothing ingredients like niacinamide.” He adds that it also helps minimize any unwanted side effects associated with other harsher ingredients like AHA, BHA and retinoids.

Who ectoin is suitable for

If ectoin sounds like something your skin can benefit from, our experts give you the go-ahead — with a couple of caveats. “Ectoin is suitable for all skin types and due to its soothing, barrier-reinforcing properties, it’s favorable for those with dry or sensitive complexions,” says Solish. He adds that because ectoin has been shown to protect against environmental stressors like UV radiation and pollution, it can also be helpful for those concerned with premature skin aging. Moreover, to maximize the efficacy of your ectoin-based products, Graf recommends pairing the ingredient with other skin care products “that are great for sensitive skin like Image Skincare’s Biome+ line that helps maintain the skin’s microbiome, helping the ectoin ingredient be able to do its best job.”

While our experts agree ectoin is generally well-tolerated and considered safe for most people, if you have a known allergy to ectoin or another ingredient in an ectoin-containing skin care product, you should definitely steer clear. While Solish says there is currently no evidence to suggest that ectoin is harmful for pregnant or breastfeeding women, “we always recommend consulting with a healthcare professional before using any new products during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.” Graf adds that infants and young children should also avoid this ingredient, as should those with inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, since it may trigger a reaction.

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