Phytosterols
INCI · Phytosterols · also Plant sterols, Beta-sitosterol
Overview
Plant-derived sterols from the same structural family as cholesterol, the sterol the skin's own barrier lipids are built on. In cosmetics they are added to soften, to help emulsions hold together, and for a calming effect on skin that looks irritated.
Who it's for
Dry, mature or reactive skin, and anyone building a routine around barrier lipids rather than actives.
Cautions
Being cholesterol-like is not the same as being cholesterol, and a formula listing phytosterols is not automatically a ceramide-cholesterol-fatty-acid barrier repair system. The raw material is normally a mixture whose exact composition depends on the plant it came from, which the label does not disclose.
- Effective from
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- Max safe
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What does Phytosterols do in skincare?
Plant-derived sterols from the same structural family as cholesterol, the sterol the skin's own barrier lipids are built on. In cosmetics they are added to soften, to help emulsions hold together, and for a calming effect on skin that looks irritated.
Is Phytosterols considered safe for skin?
Being cholesterol-like is not the same as being cholesterol, and a formula listing phytosterols is not automatically a ceramide-cholesterol-fatty-acid barrier repair system. The raw material is normally a mixture whose exact composition depends on the plant it came from, which the label does not disclose.