Glyceryl Glucoside

The full Regimen Lab Skincare Encyclopedia Entry for Glyceryl Glucoside is in development. Check back in a few weeks for an update!

What is Glyceryl Glucoside?

Glyceryl Glucoside is a natural combination of glycerol and glucose and is becoming the new molecule for next generation moisturizing ingredients. It is naturally present in red, rosé and white wine, as well as in Japanese food brewed with koji, like sake, miso and mirin (1). Recently, many scientific reports suggested the key role of glyceryl glucoside in induction of aquaporin-3 protein, which is an essential protein in water molecule transport across the skin cell membrane.

What are its benefits on the skin?

In skin, glyceryl glucoside treatment enhanced glycerol derivatives and increased the aquaporin-3 expression in vitro and ex vivo (2). Glyceryl glucosides are mentioned for increasing skin elasticity, moisturizing, the reduction of symptoms like itching, burning, tightness, tingling, and feeling of dryness (3).

Clinical Studies:

The moisturization and barrier‐strengthening benefits of moisturizing formulations containing  glyceryl‐glucoside,  urea and other components of the Natural Moisturizing Factor were also investigated (3). Vehicle‐controlled  studies  confirmed  the  additive  benefits  of these  agents,  underscoring the efficacy of addressing the deficiencies of xerotic  skin  conditions  with  topical  formulations crafted  with  key  ingredients  that  address  the  multiple  factors in  xerosis.

1 Takenaka F, Uchiyama H, Synthesis of alpha-D-glucosylglycerol by alpha-glucosidase  and  some  of  its  characteristics,  Biosci  Biotechnol  Biochem. 64(9):1821-6, 2000.

2 Schrader A, Siefken W, Kueper T, Breitenbach U, Gatermann C, Sperling G, Biernoth T, Scherner C, Stäb F, Wenck H, Wittern KP, Blatt T., Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin, Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 25(4):192-9, 2012.

3 Weber TM, Kausch  M,  Rippke  F,  Schoerlermann  AM,  Filbry  A (2012)  Treatment  of  xerosis  with  a  topical  formulation  containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 29–39.