Skincare ingredients for skin barrier repair
Our research data links 23 ingredients to skin barrier repair. Strongest evidence comes first, each with the studies behind it.
A research list, not medical advice. If a skin condition worries you, see a dermatologist.
Which ingredients have the most evidence for skin barrier repair?
In our data, the strongest evidence for skin barrier repair is behind White Petrolatum, Dexpanthenol, and Urea.
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| Ingredient | Evidence | Studied at | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Petrolatum | 📄 Literature evidence | pure base tested; universal range N/A | Low concern |
| Dexpanthenol | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 5% | Low concern |
| Urea | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 10%, 20%; combination moisturizer 2% | Low concern |
| Glycerol | 📄 Literature evidence | combination clinical 20%; general stand-alone range N/A | Low concern |
| Niacinamide | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 2-5%; Korean notice whitening 2-5% | Low concern |
- White PetrolatumLow concern
Petrolatum
Studied at pure base tested; universal range N/A
- Reference: Ghadially et al., 1992
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 264 products
- DexpanthenolLow concern
Studied at clinical 5%
- Reference: Proksch and Nissen, 2002
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 51 products
- UreaLow concern
Studied at clinical 10%, 20%; combination moisturizer 2%
- Reference: Grether-Beck et al., 2012
- Reference: Danby et al., 2022
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 500 products
- GlycerolLow concern
Glycerin
Studied at combination clinical 20%; general stand-alone range N/A
- Reference: Danby et al., 2022
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 21,696 products
- NiacinamideLow concern
Studied at clinical 2-5%; Korean notice whitening 2-5%
- Reference: Bissett et al., 2004
- Reference: Draelos et al., 2006
- Reference: Kimball et al., 2010
- Reference: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 8,542 products
- EctoineLow concern
Ectoin
Studied at clinical 7% cream
- Reference: Marini et al., 2014
- Reference: Bitop AG, 2010
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 596 products
- CholesterolLow concern
Studied at N/A; mixed-lipid molar ratio is separate
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 2,333 products
- Ceramide APLow concern
Studied at N/A; a stand-alone % cannot be fixed from finished-product mixed-lipid evidence alone
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 747 products
- Ceramide ASLow concern
Studied at N/A; a stand-alone % cannot be fixed from finished-product mixed-lipid evidence alone
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 422 products
- Ceramide EOPLow concern
Studied at N/A; a stand-alone % cannot be fixed from finished-product mixed-lipid evidence alone
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 722 products
- Ceramide EOSLow concern
Studied at N/A; a stand-alone % cannot be fixed from finished-product mixed-lipid evidence alone
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Listed in 17 products
- Ceramide NDS (INCI Ceramide NG)Low concern
Ceramide NG
Studied at N/A; a stand-alone % cannot be fixed from finished-product mixed-lipid evidence alone
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Listed in 164 products
- Ceramide NPLow concern
Studied at N/A; a stand-alone % cannot be fixed from finished-product mixed-lipid evidence alone
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 5,243 products
- Ceramide NSLow concern
Studied at N/A; a stand-alone % cannot be fixed from finished-product mixed-lipid evidence alone
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 485 products
- Linoleic acidLow concern
Studied at N/A
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 480 products
- Palmitic acidLow concern
Studied at N/A
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 2,159 products
- Stearic acidLow concern
Studied at N/A
Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.
- Reference: CIR, 2015
- Reference: Man et al., 1996
- Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 4,959 products
- Dimethicone (polydimethylsiloxane)Low concern
Dimethicone
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Zhai et al., 2000
- Reference: Hoggarth et al., 2005
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 5,823 products
- PhytosphingosineLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2007
- Reference: CIR, 2015
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,214 products
- Phytosphingosine hydrochlorideLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.2%; small study
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2007
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- SphingosineLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: CIR, 2015
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- PanthenolLow concern
Studied at N/A; kept apart from the D-form 5% study
- Reference: Proksch and Nissen, 2002
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 8,534 products
- SqualeneLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Okuda et al., 2002
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 95 products
Which ingredients for skin barrier repair are advised against in pregnancy?
None of the 23 ingredients here carries an 'advised to avoid' verdict for pregnancy in our data.
Pregnant or breastfeeding? Check new products with your doctor or midwife.
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A free quiz picks products for your concerns and leaves out ingredients you tell it to avoid. Answer 5 questions, skip the rest.