Ingredient glossary / Emollient
Phytosphingosine
On the label: Phytosphingosine · Emollient
What it is
A building block of ceramides found in skin; added to barrier creams.
Emollients: Emollients fill the gaps between skin cells and leave the surface smooth and soft; oils, butters and esters.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q3746193 →
In the research
136 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Repurposing Native Non-Homologous End Joining for Multicopy Random Integration in Wickerhamomyces ciferrii · ACS synthetic biology, 2026
- X-ray irradiation suppresses keloid growth by inducing G2/M arrest through the phytosphingosine-KIF20A axis · The Journal of investigative dermatology, 2026
- Efficacy Evaluation of N-Acyl-Phytosphingosine Prepared from Marula Oil Derived Fatty Acids in Skin Barrier Repair · Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Other emollients
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.