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A personal trainer friend of mine has a mantra that she will never let me forget: “Anything is possible when you’re hydrated.” So consider me lazy because my daily water intake is pretty shocking. I’ll drink a large cup of tea over a glass of the clear stuff every day, and while that certainly keeps my taste buds happy, I can imagine my skin is less than impressed.
In fact, I know this to be true. Besides the obvious dehydration, the cold weather and central heating have stripped my skin of moisture. As such, I’ve been navigating a persistent flaky forehead and noticed a handful of superficial lines appear under my eyes over the past few months.
What does dehydrated skin look like?
Don’t get me wrong. Skin texture is completely normal and a completely normal part of aging (I just turned 32, in case you were wondering). But I know I’m not the only one who suspects something else is going on. “What does dehydrated skin look like” and “signs of dehydrated skin” are both common skincare queries Googled.
While these new fine lines are somewhat self-inflicted, a recent appointment with a dermatologist taught me something new: Increasing your water intake can do so much to minimize skin texture, dryness, dullness, and discomfort. feeling of tightness. Rather, it’s what you put on your face that counts.
Popular moisturizing ingredients in topical skin care products include hyaluronic acid, which is known to hold 1,000 times its weight in water, and polyglutamic acid, which is said to be even more hydrating than that. But another skincare ingredient has caught my attention lately, mostly because it seems to promise so much more.
Enter: ectoin.
What is ectoin and what are its skin care benefits?
While not entirely new, skin care brands are just starting to incorporate ectoin (pronounced ec-toe-in) in their serums and moisturizers. This now includes The ink listwhich today launches it Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum, $15 — a product I had the privilege of trying before anyone else.
The Inkey List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum, $15
If you’re a regular R29er, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of The Inkey List, especially his transformative Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturizer, $20so I was excited to add the serum in my skincare rotation. But before I get into the stings, a little science.
Dr. Nava Greenfielda New York-based board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Groupsays ectoin is part of a protein structure derived from molecules found in certain bacteria that live in high-pressure environments. “[Ectoin] protects bacteria from environmental stressors,” he says, “and may help protect human cells in the skin barrier [the outermost layer of skin] attracting many water molecules and creating an effective natural film layer.’
This membrane layer effectively traps water and prevents water loss. no dry, rough skin here. Dr. Greenfield adds that this helps strengthen the skin and its natural barrier function, which keeps in the good stuff (think moisture) and protects against the bad stuff (like bacteria). “In turn, it can create visible results when used in skin care,” she says.
Except for 2% ectoin, this serum It also has 2.5% hyaluronic acid, 1% ceramide NP (a substance that occurs naturally in the skin and acts like a glue to keep skin cells intact), and 1% oats, which a handful of studies suggest relieves dry and irritated skin. You’d think the texture would be thick or sticky, but it’s the opposite: lightweight but essentially moisturizing and absorbed in seconds. I knew it would replace most of my skincare after the very first application.
An honest review of it The Inkey List’s Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum
Unlike retinol, which takes weeks to produce results, ectoin and hyaluronic acid work almost immediately to boost skin hydration. (I like to apply this serum to a slightly damp face to maximize moisture.) You know the feeling that your face might break into a hundred tiny pieces when you cleanse and don’t immediately apply conditioner? I am convinced that using this serum has alleviated this. It makes sense: Inkey List reports that when combined, ectoin and hyaluronic acid can hydrate skin up to 10 surface layers deep.
Most mornings I apply two pumps to freshly cleansed skin and follow with a high-factor broad-spectrum sunscreen — no moisturizer needed. In the evening I double cleanse, apply the serum and follow with the aforementioned ceramide face cream. Super simple.
Although my 2025 New Year’s resolution is to not stand too close to the bathroom mirror, I can’t help but notice how those fine lines under my eyes—and the less deep ones on my forehead—have almost completely filled in. It’s more noticeable to me when I’m wearing makeup because it doesn’t pool there anymore. The flakes on my forehead are almost gone, too, and the serum moisturizes my lips better than any special lip balm I have.
Most importantly though, my skin is much clearer. I think I know why: A dermatologist once told me that when skin is dehydrated, it won’t produce more water, but it can produce more oil to compensate. Oil and dead skin cells are a recipe for breakouts, but seeing as my skin seems to shed less stuff while using this serum, maybe it’s not as prone to clogged pores.
They say the best skincare products are the ones you enjoy using. I look forward to applying it every morning and night because it’s like a comfort blanket over my otherwise tight, parched skin. At $15, it’s the cheapest product in my skincare routine right now, but if you ask me—and the dermatologists who praise ectoin—it’s arguably the hardest worker for dry, dehydrated skin.
Just like the brand’s ceramide moisturizer, I have a feeling that Dam it’s going to be a staple in my skincare routine this winter and beyond. Get yours before it’s sold out at theinkeylist.com.
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