Ingredient glossary
Spermidine
On your shelf ✓What Spermidine does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Spermidine · Also: Polyamine Spermidine
In short: Spermidine delivers anti-aging support and barrier support, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is emerging. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant.
- What it does
- Anti aging, barrier support
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant
- Evidence
- Emerging
The molecule
The Glow take
Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.
Spermidine plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.
— Maya
What it does
- anti aging
- barrier support
- repair
emerging evidenceA Communications Biology study applying Streptococcus secretions containing spermidine to facial skin for 4 weeks reported improved dermal structure and barrier function with increased collagen elastin and lipid synthesis in aged cells. The intervention was a whole bacterial secretome rather than isolated spermidine and cosmetic formulations with spermidine alone have not been tested in controlled human trials so penetration dose and long term safety remain unknown.
On a label: unknown.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- normal
- dry
- mature
- photoaged
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
- immunocompromised
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Often chosen for mature, photoaged. Take extra care if any of these apply to you: pregnancy, breastfeeding, immunocompromised.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- ceramides
- humectants
Spermidine, answered
Is Spermidine safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Spermidine is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Spermidine?
Approach Spermidine with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and immunocompromised.
What concentration of Spermidine actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
During pregnancy
Treat Spermidine as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.When it is worth booking →
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Sources & how we reviewed this
- PMID 33608630abstract only, the full text is paywalled