Also called GABA, this amino acid is emollient and attracts water to the skin’s surface. It may also assist in speeding up the barrier repair process.
Moisturizing
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Other functions
Emollient
Emollient
Emollients fill the micro-cracks in the skin and leave it feeling soft and pleasant to the touch. Emollients are often mistakenly perceived as moisturizing ingredients.
Emollient
Emollient
Emollients fill the micro-cracks in the skin and leave it feeling soft and pleasant to the touch. Emollients are often mistakenly perceived as moisturizing ingredients.
Origin
Synthetic
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Synthetic
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA in short) is an amino acid that is not used as a building block for proteins but instead serves as a transmitter of signals between neurons. It is added as a humectant moisturizing and emollient ingredient in skincare products.
One study reports that a disrupted skin barrier recovers faster after the topical application of GABA. They suggest that it is because GABA up-regulates some processes in the skin, which leads to faster barrier repair (meaning that GABA is not barrier repairing itself but helps the skin to repair itself).
Science
1
Denda, M., Inoue, K., Inomata, S., & Denda, S. (2002). gamma-Aminobutyric acid (A) receptor agonists accelerate cutaneous barrier recovery and prevent epidermal hyperplasia induced by barrier disruption. The Journal of investigative dermatology, 119(5), 1041–1047.
'%20d='M7%200L14%207.5H0L7%200Z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Humectant
'%20fill='black'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
