What does Beta-Glucan do?#
A hydrating serum that delivers beta-glucan to help calm and hydrate skin, supporting a soothed and comfortable-looking complexion.
- Helps calm the appearance of redness
- Helps skin look soothed and feel hydrated and comfortable
- Serum formula absorbs smoothly to deliver hydration
How it works
Beta-glucan is a naturally derived polysaccharide that helps skin look calmer and more hydrated. It works by forming a moisture-retaining film on the skin's surface and supporting a healthy-looking moisture barrier, helping to maintain a comfortable, even-toned appearance.
How to use Beta-Glucan#
- Every day, morning or evening or both. There is nothing to ease into and no reason to build up slowly.
- In routine order: a toner or essence goes on straight after cleansing, a serum after that, a cream last.
- Across the whole face. It suits sensitive and reactive skin, which is what it is usually chosen for.
- It layers under or over most other steps and does not need an evening of its own.
- It is a useful step after anything that leaves skin looking flushed — sun, weather, a strong active the night before, or a salon facial.
- Check the source if you have a known oat or wheat allergy. The same name covers oat-derived, yeast-derived and mushroom-derived versions, and only the oat one is relevant to that allergy.
- There is no adjustment phase and no early flare-up to sit through. Itching, redness or bumps appearing over several days of use are a reaction rather than settling in, so stop if that happens.
Discontinue use if unexpected discomfort occurs.
Forms you will see it in
Beta-Glucan essence
- Where it goes
- After cleansing, morning or evening
- How often
- Daily
- Strength
- Gentle
- Sun sensitivity
- None
Beta-Glucan soothing serum
- Where it goes
- Before moisturizer, morning or evening
- How often
- Daily
- Strength
- Gentle
- Sun sensitivity
- None
Beta-Glucan soothing cream
- Where it goes
- As your moisturizer, morning or evening
- How often
- Daily
- Strength
- Gentle
- Sun sensitivity
- None
Using Beta-Glucan with other ingredients
Pairs well with Beta-Glucan
Hyaluronic Acid
Works well togetherComplementary hydration at different levels for plumper-looking skin.
Niacinamide
Works well togetherBoth support the look of a healthy moisture barrier and a calmer-looking complexion.
Ceramides
Works well togetherBeta-glucan supports a comfortable feel while ceramides help skin look and feel more resilient.
What not to use with Beta-Glucan
Nothing flagged. None of the ingredients this wiki covers needs to be kept apart from Beta-Glucan — check the label of anything not covered here.
Who should avoid Beta-Glucan?#
Six situations change whether Beta-Glucan suits your skin right now. Each one is either a reason to skip it, a reason to go slowly, or nothing to watch for.
- Maternity & Nursing
- No caution
- Fragile or Sensitive
- No caution
- Recent Facial or Laser
- No caution
- Prone to Redness
- No caution
- Dry or Itchy Patches
- No caution
- Recent Shave or Wax
- No caution
Cosmetic strength limits for Beta-Glucan where you live#
| Region | Maximum strength |
|---|---|
| United States | No explicit cap |
| Canada | No explicit cap |
| European Union | No explicit cap |
| Great Britain | No explicit cap |
No cosmetic regulator in these four markets sets a maximum strength for beta-glucan. That is a limit on the rules, not a signal to use more: how much goes into a product is the formulator's decision.
Products with Beta-Glucan#
We may earn a small commission when you buy through these links.
Beta-Glucan essence · 2
Beta-Glucan soothing serum · 1
Beta-Glucan soothing cream · 2
Common questions about Beta-Glucan#
When should you apply Beta-Glucan?
- Every day, morning or evening or both. There is nothing to ease into and no reason to build up slowly.
Which form of Beta-Glucan should you use?
- Beta-Glucan essence — after cleansing, morning or evening, daily. Beta-Glucan soothing serum — before moisturizer, morning or evening, daily. Beta-Glucan soothing cream — as your moisturizer, morning or evening, daily.
How often can you use Beta-Glucan?
- Daily.
Where do you apply Beta-Glucan?
- All over the face. Keep it away from your eyes and lips.
Does Beta-Glucan make skin more sensitive to the sun?
- No. Beta-Glucan is not flagged as increasing sun sensitivity.
What should you not use with Beta-Glucan?
- Nothing flagged. None of the ingredients this wiki covers needs to be kept apart from Beta-Glucan — check the label of anything not covered here.
Is there a cosmetic limit for Beta-Glucan?
- No. No cosmetic regulator in the United States, Canada, the European Union or Great Britain sets a maximum strength for it. That is a limit on the rules, not a signal to use more.
Related ingredients#
How we check this#
Everything on this page traces to the sources listed below — regulators' own publications and published studies. Where the evidence does not answer a question, it is left unanswered.
Our review is AI-assisted and is not a named expert's opinion. Last reviewed August 7, 2026.
Think something here is out of date or wrong? Email us at wiki@skinintelligence.ai with your reasoning and where you read it. We read what people send, and we update the page when the sources support it.
Regulators and official bodies · 8
- S4Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Safety Assessment of Yeast-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. Final Report, release date 1 Oct 2024, Panel meeting 3–4 June 2024.
- S5Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Safety Assessment of Yeast-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. Draft Report for Panel Review, release 20 Aug 2021. Stamped "Distributed for Comment Only — Do Not Cite or Quote"; its CONCLUSION reads "To be determined". Used only for the wINCI function definition and the Council concentration-of-use table it reproduces, never for a safety conclusion..
- S6Biotec BetaGlucans AS. Woulgan® Bioactive Beta-Glucan Gel — User Manual (EN). CE-marked medical device, hydrogel containing soluble yeast β-1,3/1,6-glucan (SBG).
- S2321 CFR 347.10 — Skin protectant active ingredients. eCFR, Title 21 current as of 22 Apr 2026.
- S24Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products, consolidated text CELEX 02009R1223 (consolidations of 2025-09-01 and 2026-05-01), Annexes II–VI.
- S25Health Canada. Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist — List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients.
- S26Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as retained in UK law, Annex II and Annex III (legislation.gov.uk, EUR 2009/1223).
- S27US FDA 510(k) premarket notification database (openFDA): K964241, K980962, K982825, K002078 (product code MGQ); K050086 (FRO), Brennen Medical Inc.
Studies and references · 22
- S1Feng X, Shang J, Wang Y, Chen Y, Liu Y. Exploring the Properties and Application Potential of β-Glucan in Skin Care. Food Sci Nutr. 2025;13(4):e70212. PMID 40291929 / PMC12023766.
- S2Bos JD, Meinardi MM. The 500 Dalton rule for the skin penetration of chemical compounds and drugs. Exp Dermatol. 2000;9(3):165–9. PMID 10839713.
- S3Jiang H, Li J, Luo S, Cui C, Luo L, Li Y, Liang Z. Oat β-Glucooligosaccharides: Preparation, characterization, skin permeability, and photodamage repair for skincare applications. Carbohydr Res. 2025;557:109648. PMID 40865351.
- S7Zykova SN, Balandina KA, Vorokhobina NV, Kuznetsova AV, Engstad R, Zykova TA. Macrophage stimulating agent soluble yeast β-1,3/1,6-glucan as a topical treatment of diabetic foot and leg ulcers: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled phase II study. J Diabetes Investig. 2014;5(4). PMID 25411598 / PMC4210076.
- S8Cao Y, Wang P, Zhang G, Hu C, Zhang H, Wang X. Administration of skin care regimens containing β-glucan for skin recovery after fractional laser therapy: A split-face, double-blinded, vehicle-controlled study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(6):1756–62. PMID 33128496.
- S9Jesenak M, Urbancek S, Majtan J, Banovcin P, Hercogova J. β-Glucan-based cream (containing pleuran isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus) in supportive treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. J Dermatolog Treat. 2016;27(4):351–4. PMID 26654776.
- S10Schiano I, Raco S, Cestone E, Jesenak M, Rennerova Z, Majtan J. Pleuran-β-Glucan from Oyster Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes), Soothes and Improves Skin Parameters. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2021. PMID 35381156.
- S11Gautier S, Xhauflaire-Uhoda E, Gonry P, Piérard GE. Chitin-glucan, a natural cell scaffold for skin moisturization and rejuvenation. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2008;30(6):459–69. PMID 19099547.
- S12Castelli D, Colin L, Camel E, Ries G. Pretreatment of skin with a Ginkgo biloba extract/sodium carboxymethyl-beta-1,3-glucan formulation appears to inhibit the elicitation of allergic contact dermatitis in man. Contact Dermatitis. 1998;38(3):123–6. PMID 9536401.
- S13Jing R, Fu M, Huang Y, Zhang K, Ye J, Gong F, Jihea Ali Naji Nasser AB, Xu X, Xiao J, Yu G, Lin S, Zhao W, Xu N, Li X, Li Z, Gao S. Oat β-glucan repairs the epidermal barrier by upregulating the levels of epidermal differentiation, cell-cell junctions and lipids via Dectin-1. Br J Pharmacol. 2024;181(11):1596–1613. PMID 38124222.
- S14Pichon C, Marat X, Brule A, Black A, Gueniche A. The harnessing potential of carboxymethyl beta glucan: A driver of skin repair. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2026, online ahead of print. PMID 42332934.
- S15Cao Y, Wang P, Liu X, Zhang G, Cao Z, Xue H, He Q, Wang X. Improving the outcome of treating striae gravidarum by combined therapies using topical β-glucan and 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser: A prospective randomized vehicle-controlled parallel group study. J Dermatol. 2022;49(9):829–36. PMID 35570397.
- S16Medeiros SDV, Cordeiro SL, Cavalcanti JEC, Melchuna KM, Lima AMDS, Filho IA, Medeiros AC, Rocha KBF, Oliveira EM, Faria EDB, Sassaki GL, Rocha HAO, Sales VSF. Effects of purified Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1→3)-β-glucan on venous ulcer healing. Int J Mol Sci. 2012. PMID 22942695.
- S17Delatte SJ, Evans J, Hebra A, Adamson W, Othersen HB, Tagge EP. Effectiveness of beta-glucan collagen for treatment of partial-thickness burns in children. J Pediatr Surg. 2001;36(1):113–8. PMID 11150448.
- S18King B, Barrett S, Cutting KF. Clinical evaluation of a bioactive beta-glucan gel in the treatment of 'hard-to-heal' wounds. J Wound Care. 2017;26(2):58–63. PMID 28182518.
- S19Glass GE. Cosmeceuticals: The Principles and Practice of Skin Rejuvenation by Nonprescription Topical Therapy. Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2020. PMID 36776759 / PMC9905273.
- S20Boussault P, Léauté-Labrèze C, Saubusse E, Maurice-Tison S, Perromat M, Roul S, Sarrat A, Taïeb A, Boralevi F. Oat sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis: prevalence, risks and associated factors. Allergy. 2007;62(11):1251–6. PMID 17919139.
- S21Pootongkam S, Nedorost S. Oat and wheat as contact allergens in personal care products. Dermatitis. 2013;24(6):291–5. PMID 24201466.
- S22Cruzval-O'Reilly E, Morrell DS, Lugo-Somolinos A. Lentinan Dermatitis: Time to Rename Shiitake Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2021. PMID 33449484.
- S28Kim H, Lee S, Ki CS. Modular formation of hyaluronic acid/β-glucan hybrid nanogels for topical dermal delivery targeting skin dendritic cells. Carbohydr Polym. 2021;252:117132. PMID 33183591.
- S29Du B, Bian Z, Xu B. Skin health promotion effects of natural beta-glucan derived from cereals and microorganisms: a review. Phytother Res. 2014;28(2):159–66. PMID 23494974.
- S30Sousa P, Tavares-Valente D, Amorim M, Azevedo-Silva J, Pintado M, Fernandes J. β-Glucan extracts as high-value multifunctional ingredients for skin health: A review. Carbohydr Polym. 2023;322:121329. PMID 37839841.
