Ingredient Encyclopedia

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Discover what’s inside your skincare — from retinol to aloe vera — with clear guides on benefits, uses, and safety.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

N-Acetyl Glucosamine – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
N-Acetyl Glucosamine ($C_{8}H_{15}NO_{6}$), often called NAG, is a skin-identical amino sugar that bridges the gap between hydration and tone correction. Unlike exfoliating acids that dissolve surface bonds, NAG works by modulating the natural desquamation (shedding) process from within and serving as a key precursor for the skin's production of Hyaluronic Acid. Because it is a molecule your body already recognizes, it provides a "low-drama" pathway to smoother texture and increased moisture retention. It is most famous in clinical literature for its synergistic relationship with Niacinamide, where the two work together to interrupt pigment pathways more effectively than either could alone.