Pentavitin Cosmetics: What it is, How it Works, and Why HYDRATE HBSKN – Hebi Skin Uses it at 1.5%
Contents
HBSKN – Hebi Skin Laboratory Team | March
If you’re looking for information on Pentavitin in cosmetics, you’ve probably already read a skincare product label and are wondering what that term means — and why it should make a difference compared to the hyaluronic acid you already know.
The answer lies in its mechanism of action: Pentavitin® does not work like most humectants. It does not attract water from the environment. It does not form a film on the skin's surface. It chemically binds to corneocytes — the cells of the stratum corneum — and maintains hydration from within the tissue for a documented 72 hours.
This article explains the chemistry of Pentavitin®, why it’s different from other humectants, how it’s formulated in HYDRATE by HBSKN – Hebi Skin, and why the 1.5% concentration matters.
What is Pentavitin® and where does it come from?
Pentavitin® is a patented ingredient by Evonik — one of the world's leading manufacturers of active cosmetic ingredients — whose INCI name is D-Glucosyl Glycerol. It is a natural glycoside derived from sugarcane, obtained by enzymatic biotransformation from sucrose and glycerol.
The molecule was first identified in lichens — organisms capable of surviving extreme drought conditions — where it acts as a water "reserve solution" that allows the cell to maintain its structure even in the almost complete absence of free water. This extreme water management capability is the basis of the patent: Evonik isolated and stabilized the molecule for cosmetic application, documenting its efficacy in controlled clinical studies.
Pentavitin® is registered as a safe cosmetic ingredient by the ECHA – European Chemicals Agency and validated by independent efficacy tests published by Evonik Research & Development itself.
HYDRATION CLINICAL SIMULATION
Consistent use of HBSKN – Hebi Skin HYDRATE booster serum
How Pentavitin® works on the skin: the covalent bond
The fundamental difference between Pentavitin® and most humectants — including hyaluronic acid — is the type of interaction it establishes with skin cells.
Traditional humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea) act by hygroscopic attraction: they are molecules that attract and retain water due to their chemical structure. They work as long as they remain on the skin's surface — they wash off with water, evaporate with heat, and are lost with perspiration.
Pentavitin® works in a radically different way. Its molecular structure — a glycoside with specifically configured hydroxyl groups — allows it to form covalent bonds with the keratin proteins of corneocytes. It does not deposit on the surface: it anchors itself to the very structure of the cells of the stratum corneum.
The result is hydration that does not depend on the external environment or the continuous presence of the product on the skin. Pentavitin® transforms corneocytes into "active water reservoirs" — cells capable of independently retaining a greater amount of water compared to their natural untreated state.
This covalent bond is the scientific basis for the documented 72 hours of hydration: it is not an advertising hyperbole; it is the measured duration of the bond before natural cellular desquamation.
Why 72 hours of hydration is not an exaggeration
The 72-hour figure can be verified through corneometry measurement — the standard instrumental technique for quantifying the water content of the stratum corneum. Clinical studies conducted by Evonik measured skin hydration levels at 1, 24, 48, and 72 hours after a single application of Pentavitin® on healthy volunteers, with an untreated control group.
The results show a statistically significant maintenance of hydration up to 72 hours — with a progressive but never below baseline decline in the control group until the end of the observation period.
To put it in context: the turnover cycle of superficial corneocytes is approximately 7-14 days. The covalent bond of Pentavitin® is maintained throughout the life of the cell to which it is bound — about 72 hours in the case of the most mature superficial corneocytes, ready for desquamation. It is not a temporary effect: it is synchronized with the biological cycle of the skin.
As documented in a review published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, humectants that establish bonds with the cellular structure — unlike purely hygroscopic ones — show significantly superior prolonged hydration profiles, with less dependence on environmental humidity.
Pentavitin® vs hyaluronic acid: two different mechanisms, two complementary functions
Hyaluronic acid and Pentavitin® are both humectants — but they act at different points and with different mechanisms. They are not in competition: they are complementary.
Hyaluronic acid — a molecule with variable molecular weight (from 50 kDa to over 1,800 kDa), highly hygroscopic, capable of retaining up to 1,000 times its weight in water. High molecular weight molecules form a moisturizing film on the epidermal surface; low molecular weight ones penetrate deeper. The limitation: they depend on air humidity to work best — in dry environments, they can paradoxically draw water from deeper skin layers.
Pentavitin® — a small molecule (molecular weight ~254 Da), stable, which covalently binds to corneocytes. It does not depend on environmental humidity. It maintains cellular hydration even in conditions of dry air, cold, indoor heating — exactly the conditions where hyaluronic acid is less effective.
Using them together — as in the HYDRATE HBSKN – Hebi Skin formula — produces hydration that covers both the superficial layer (hyaluronic acid) and the deep cellular layer (Pentavitin®), with a persistence profile that neither offers alone.
HYDRATE HBSKN – Hebi Skin: Pentavitin® 1.5% + multi-molecular hyaluronic acid
HYDRATE is HBSKN – Hebi Skin's hydrating booster serum, formulated around two main active ingredients:
Pentavitin® 1.5%. The 1.5% concentration is what Evonik documents as optimal efficacy in clinical tests. It's not a minor detail: below this threshold, the effects are reduced; above it, no proportional additional benefits are obtained. The choice to formulate at 1.5% is a precise technical decision, not an economic compromise.
Multi-molecular hyaluronic acid. HYDRATE uses a combination of high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid to provide both immediate surface hydration and deeper penetration into the stratum corneum. The synergy with Pentavitin® ensures layered hydration: rapid on the surface, long-lasting in depth.
The formula is completed by botanical extracts (Aloe vera, organic Calendula) with a soothing function and a neutral aqueous base with a pH compatible with the stratum corneum (about 5.5), which does not alter the skin microbiome or barrier function.
The result is a light serum — a few drops are sufficient for the entire face — that absorbs quickly without leaving residue, compatible with all skin types, including the oiliest. You can learn more about HBSKN – Hebi Skin's ingredient philosophy on our page dedicated to ingredients and their research.
How to use HYDRATE in your HBSKN – Hebi Skin routine
Morning and evening. HYDRATE is used in both daily applications — this is its optimal frequency to keep the Pentavitin® bond constantly active as corneocytes renew.
After CLEANSE, before PROTECT+ or ANTI-AGE+. The order in the routine is: CLEANSE → HYDRATE → next step (morning: PROTECT+; evening: PURIFY or ANTI-AGE+). HYDRATE prepares the skin barrier and improves the penetration of subsequent active ingredients.
2-3 drops. Sufficient quantity for the entire face. HYDRATE is concentrated — using more does not increase benefits and may leave a slight residue on the surface.
On clean, slightly damp skin. Application on still slightly damp skin after rinsing the cleanser optimizes the penetration of hyaluronic acid in its hygroscopic component. Pentavitin® binds independently of the moisture state.
For post-workout application — where the skin has lost water due to perspiration and needs rapid restoration — read our guide on how to manage skin after sports and intense sweating and on how to structure post-gym skincare without sebum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Pentavitin® is an ingredient of natural origin (derived from sugarcane), registered as safe by ECHA, and tested in numerous controlled clinical studies by Evonik Research & Development. It has been present in cosmetic formulations for over 15 years with an excellent safety profile, including for sensitive skin.
Glycerin is a classic humectant that attracts water from the air due to its hygroscopicity. It works well in humid environments but can be ineffective or counterproductive in dry environments. Pentavitin® binds directly to skin cells — it does not depend on environmental humidity and maintains hydration regardless of the climate.
Yes. HYDRATE is a light, water-based serum, free of oils and occlusives. Pentavitin® and hyaluronic acid hydrate without adding sebum or creating occlusion. Oily skin needs hydration just like any other type — lack of water in the tissues triggers compensatory sebum production.
Yes, but its full potential is expressed in combination with CLEANSE (which prepares the barrier) and PROTECT+ (which defends it). Using it alone still provides long-lasting hydration — it's the second step in a routine, but also works as a standalone product for those who want to start gradually.
Yes — it is an ingredient marketed by Evonik and used by several brands. The difference in the HYDRATE HBSKN – Hebi Skin formulation is the 1.5% concentration (clinically documented as optimal) and the synergy with multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, which amplifies hydration at two distinct levels.
Conclusion
In cosmetics, Pentavitin® is one of the most robust and well-documented moisturizing ingredients available today. It doesn't attract water; it binds to cells and transforms them into autonomous water reservoirs for 72 hours.
HYDRATE HBSKN – Hebi Skin formulates it at 1.5% — the optimal concentration — in synergy with multi-molecular hyaluronic acid. Two mechanisms, a single application, hydration that doesn't depend on your environment.
Sources: Evonik Research & Development – Pentavitin® Technical Dossier | International Journal of Cosmetic Science – Humectant mechanisms in skin hydration | ECHA – D-Glucosyl Glycerol Safety Profile | Rawlings AV, Harding CR, “Moisturization and skin barrier function” – Dermatologic Therapy, 2004
👉 Shop HYDRATE — Pentavitin 1.5% and multi-molecular hyaluronic acid. 72 hours of hydration that depends not on the environment, but on your cells.
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