Beta-glucan is a naturally occurring polysaccharide known for calming and hydrating the skin. It's a multi-functional ingredient - strong antioxidant activity, barrier protection, and support for skin renewal - and it suits every skin type, sensitive skin included.
This article covers the chemical properties of the raw ingredient used in SkinStandard's formulation work. It does not describe the effects of any specific product containing it, nor does it constitute a medical claim.
Beta-Glucan at a Glance
Calms and protects. Beta-glucan quickly soothes skin that's become reactive from external stressors, and reinforces the skin barrier.
Holds moisture better than hyaluronic acid. At the same concentration, beta-glucan delivers higher water retention than hyaluronic acid, replenishing moisture deeper in the skin.
Antioxidant activity. It scavenges free radicals, helping slow visible aging and keep skin looking healthy.
Core Benefits
Soothing. Quickly calms irritated skin and protects sensitive skin types.
Barrier support. Helps the skin barrier recover, protecting against external stressors and preventing dehydration below the surface.
Moisture retention. Keeps water in the skin over time, strengthening overall hydration.
Anti-aging support. Antioxidant activity clears free radicals, slowing the progression of visible aging.
Who Beta-Glucan Is For
Sensitive or already-irritated skin. If your skin flushes easily or reacts to external triggers, beta-glucan is a fit. Skin dealing with dryness, especially dehydration below the surface. If you want moisture that holds over time rather than sitting on top. Skin that needs barrier reinforcement. For recovering a compromised barrier and protecting against outside stressors. Anyone concerned about visible aging. Antioxidant protection against free-radical damage.
Beta-Glucan vs. Hyaluronic Acid
This is the comparison most people are actually searching for. Both are hydrators, but they aren't interchangeable. At an equal concentration, beta-glucan holds more water than hyaluronic acid. Beta-glucan also brings a soothing effect and antioxidant activity, neither of which is a primary function of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid's primary role is hydration; beta-glucan's is hydration plus calming plus barrier support.
In short: beta-glucan does what hyaluronic acid does for moisture, and adds soothing and antioxidant activity on top. That's why it tends to be the better pick for skin that's both dry and reactive.
What Concentration of Beta-Glucan Is Used in Skincare?
Beta-glucan works differently from ingredients where a higher number straightforwardly means more benefit. It's a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide, so it's typically formulated at low single-digit percentages - adding more thickens the texture without proportionally improving how it performs on skin.
That means the percentage alone tells you very little. What matters more: whether it's the single focus of the formula, or one of many "concept" ingredients - a short ingredient list built around beta-glucan behaves differently from a long formula where it appears near the bottom; what it's formulated with - because it's used for soothing, the surrounding ingredients matter, since added fragrance, alcohol, or essential oils can work against the reason you chose it; and whether the brand discloses the figure at all - U.S. cosmetic labels aren't required to list exact percentages, only INCI order, so any stated number is a voluntary disclosure.
For reference, SkinStandard formulates its beta-glucan Add-on Serum at 0.5% beta-glucan as the single focus ingredient.
How to Get More Out of It
Use it at any step. Beta-glucan comes in serums, creams, and other textures, so it fits anywhere in a routine.
Reach for it on irritated or compromised skin. Beyond hydration, it helps with soothing and itch-prone areas.
Layer it with complementary actives. Used alongside retinol, niacinamide, or pure vitamin C, it reinforces hydration and skin protection - which is especially useful with actives that can be drying or irritating during the adjustment period.
Looking for a formula built around this single ingredient? See SkinStandard's 0.5% Beta-Glucan Add-on Serum.
What to Keep in Mind
Patch-test first. Before first use, test a small amount to check for any allergic response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is beta-glucan better than hyaluronic acid?
For moisture retention at the same concentration, yes - and it also adds soothing and antioxidant effects that hyaluronic acid doesn't primarily provide. They can also be used together.
Is beta-glucan safe for sensitive skin?
It's one of the ingredients most often chosen for sensitive and irritated skin. Still, patch-test before first use like any new product.
Can I use beta-glucan with retinol or vitamin C?
Yes. Those are noted as synergistic pairings - beta-glucan supports hydration and protection alongside actives that can be drying during adjustment.
What percentage of beta-glucan should I look for?
There isn't a meaningful universal threshold, because beta-glucan is typically used at low single-digit percentages and higher amounts mainly affect texture. Focus on whether it's the formula's main ingredient and what it's paired with. SkinStandard's own add-on serum uses 0.5%.
That's the practical upshot of everything above: with no meaningful universal percentage to compare against, what you can actually check is whether beta-glucan is the formula's single focus and whether the brand states the figure at all.
A Concrete Example: SkinStandard's 0.5% Beta-Glucan Add-on Serum
0.5% beta-glucan, as the single focus ingredient. The figure is stated rather than left to INCI order, which answers both of the checks above directly.
It's an add-on, so your routine stays as it is. Mix a pump into the hydrating serum or cream you already use - start at one pump and adjust the amount from there, which is how you set the strength of the step.
0.5% Beta-Glucan Add-on SerumShop this product on skinstandard.com›
This article describes the chemical and biological properties of this ingredient only. It does not describe the effects of any specific product containing this ingredient, nor does it constitute a medical claim.
