NATURAL INGREDIENTS 83


ideally mirror-image regions. One was treated with a cream containing natural betaine (verum), the other with a placebo. The goal was to evaluate skin tolerability and betaine’s efficacy in a basic cosmetic formulation. Over the four-week period, both formulations


were well tolerated and caused no notable skin reactions, indicating the gentle nature of natural betaine, suitable also for itchy and inflamed skin conditions. In terms of efficacy, after four weeks of


treatment, the cream containing natural betaine produced a significant reduction in TEWL of 17.5%, demonstrating a marked improvement in skin barrier function (Figure 1). In contrast, a cream formulated without natural betaine reduced TEWL by only 2%. In a second study focusing on dry, mature skin, the impact of natural betaine on visible signs of ageing was evaluated in 42 participants. Each participant applied the betaine-containing cream twice daily for four weeks. High-resolution imaging was used to document


the effects, allowing precise measurement of wrinkle area, wrinkle volume, and wrinkle width at the outer corner of the eye (crow’s feet). After four weeks, the cream containing betaine produced significant reductions in all three parameters, compared to the control cream (Figure 2). Additionally, skin elasticity in the same region


increased by 13.6% with the natural betaine cream, whereas the control cream achieved an increase of only 4.2% (Figure 3). These findings underscore the


Skin elasticity measurements


16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0


Control ■ Cream w/o betaine ■ Cream with 4% PuraBeet ■ * significant difference vs. placebo (p<=0.05)


Clinical study | Dermatest | Agrana (2025) 13.6 **


4.2 0.2


Figure 3: The cream containing 4% natural betaine resulted in a statistically significant increase in skin elasticity, whereas the cream without betaine showed only a slight, non-significant improvement


ability of natural betaine to enhance skin firmness and resilience. Research confirms that natural betaine is


an effective multifunctional ingredient in skin care formulations. It supports barrier integrity by improving hydration and reducing transepidermal water loss, while also contributing to anti-ageing benefits such as enhanced elasticity and reduced wrinkle depth. These properties make betaine particularly


relevant for addressing skin challenges associated with environmental stress, climate variability, and the ageing process.


Hair benefits: scalp health and colour protection Just as skin is impacted by climate change, pollution, UV radiation, and extreme weather, hair and scalp are similarly affected by environmental stressors. Dust, pollutants, and particulate matter (PM) accumulate on the hair fibre, making it dry, brittle, and prone to damage. Fine particles and toxins can clog hair follicles,


leading to scalp irritation, itchiness, dandruff, and even hair thinning. Repeated washing, often necessary in warmer climates due to increased perspiration, can further dry and irritate both hair


www.personalcaremagazine.com


April 2026 PERSONAL CARE MAGAZINE


Total skin elasticity (R2) change before/after in %


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