Be
Betaine
BetaineHydrator
A smooth, non-sticky moisture-puller that also helps cells hold water under stress. Common in essences and toners; pairs with glycerin.
What it does
It’s a smooth, non-sticky alternative to glycerin, common in Korean essences and toners, and the two are often used together.
The evidence, graded
strongOne application of a ceramide cream lowered water loss through the skin, measured from two hours and held to 24 hours, and raised skin hydration over the same day. Hyaluronic acid creams improved skin hydration and elasticity when measured at 30 and 60 days. Neither source Drop has read measured how long barrier repair takes, so Drop sets no barrier-repair window.Pavicic 2011 · Journal of Drugs in Dermatology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
trimethylglycine
Pairs worth knowing
Browse all 1238 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.