In the event you’re keen about staying up-to-date with the newest and biggest skin-care ingredients, your mind is probably going crammed with terminology that would rival a dermatologist’s lexicon. (Hyaluronic acid! Ceramides! Ectoin!) But a lesser-known term that deserves a spot in your mental glossary is “aquaporins.” Whether you are conversant in these moisture-moving proteins or not, enhancing your understanding of them is crucial, especially in the event you struggle with dry skin.

Before we delve into the small print, it is important to make clear that aquaporins aren’t a skin-care ingredient; they’re proteins naturally present in your skin cell membranes. Consequently, you will not find them listed on product labels. Nevertheless, some skin-care products claim to contain ingredients that may boost the natural strength of aquaporins and even stimulate the production of recent ones, very similar to how retinol stimulates collagen production.

To make clear aquaporins and the way they contribute to pleased and hydrated skin, Allure sought insights from three leading board-certified dermatologists.

• carmen castillaMD, is a board-certified dermatologist and a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai in Latest York City.
• Xi HuangPhD, is a cosmetic scientist, dermal tech developer, and founding father of I-on Skin-care, based in Latest Jersey.
• Karan LalMD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic dermatology at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona.

• What are aquaporins?
• What are aquaporins’ skin-care benefits?
• Who should use aquaporin skincare?
• Which skin-care ingredients are thought to increase aquaporin production?
• Aquaporins: The TL;DR

Think back to your first lesson on cellular biology — you may remember learning all in regards to the cell membrane. This is definitely where aquaporins reside. Aquaporins are naturally occurring proteins in your body, explains carmen castillaMD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor at Mount Sinai in Latest York City. These proteins allow water molecules to flow out and in of cells, explains Xi HuangPhD, is a cosmetic scientist, dermal tech developer, and founding father of I-on Skin-care, based in Latest Jersey.

For those interested by the scientific workings of aquaporins, Dr. Castilla explains that these proteins enable osmosis (one other subject you may recall learning about in biology class). That is when substances move from areas of upper concentration to lower concentration until balance is achieved on each side. Within the case of cell dehydration, if the water concentration contained in the cells is lower than the surface, “water will flow into the cell, thereby regulating water balance and restoring hydration,” she explains. Aquaporins make this hydration restoration occur.