Consistent skincare routines are key for getting the long-term beneficial results you want. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, you hit a rough patch. We wanted to create something you could reach for in those moments—when you need to nourish a patch of reactive, irritated skin.
Our 5% Ectoin Cream is a steroid-free solution designed to rescue you on those days when nothing else in your skincare routine can. Think of it as something you might keep in a beauty First Aid kit: You’ll want it when your skin is more symptomatic and needs extra attention. It can alleviate sensitivity, scaling, roughness, redness and irritation—all while moisturizing and restoring your compromised skin barrier. Use it on flare-ups for targeted relief.
5% Ectoin Cream Benefits
In nature, ectoin is what’s known as an extremolyte, a small organic molecule that protects microorganisms from extreme conditions like harsh temperatures and salt lakes. In skincare, ectoin does the same thing: It defends your skin by binding with water to create a shield of hydration around cells. It has both a protecting and nourishing effect.
In this formula at a potent 5% strength, ectoin accomplishes a great deal: It provides known long-term hydration and stabilizes the skin barrier; it relieves and calms dehydrated and irritated skin; it reduces skin sensitivity and visual redness; and it reduces the appearance of fine lines and photodamaged skin.
Key Ingredients in 5% Ectoin Cream
Ectoin is the star of the show here, of course. But we also added a gentle resurfacing complex to help renew the skin’s surface. We included urea to exfoliate (mildly) and eliminate dead skin cells to reduce roughness. Hydroxyethyl urea helps hydrate. And allantoin, an ingredient known for its moisturizing and keratolytic properties, soothes and softens skin to improve texture.
How Does the 5% Ectoin Cream Differ from Other Prequel Moisturizers?
Unlike other Prequel moisturizers, 5% Ectoin Cream is meant to be used on targeted areas of symptomatic, reactive, irritated skin. That’s why the tube is small (but mighty). You can absolutely use it twice a day, every day, but we hope you don’t have to.
The targeted application not only provides relief, it also feels great on the skin. It’s a thicker ointment, but it absorbs effortlessly and doesn’t feel greasy. And it dries down to a natural, silky finish. But what we love about it is that you can still feel exactly where you put it—so you know it’s working on that targeted area to protect your compromised skin barrier.
Order of Application: How to Layer the 5% Ectoin Cream
This ectoin cream will always be the last step in any routine before SPF—even over a thick moisturizer. But you don’t need a complicated, multi-step routine with this formula: You could simply layer it over cleansed skin and let it get to work soothing and renewing the skin you’ve applied it to.
DISCLAIMER: All skin care articles are intended to help educate on specific ingredients and skin care topics. Our articles are written to be informative and informational. Any reference to a specific patient experience is not a medical suggestion for treatment. Please note that any Prequel products with referenced ingredients are formulated for Cosmetic Use Only and NOT intended as replacements for physician advice and/or pharmaceutical product recommendations.
