Phytosterols & Linoleic Acid: The Complete Guide

Phytosterols and linoleic acid are plant-derived barrier lipids that work alongside ceramides to rebuild dry, compromised skin. This guide explains what they are.

What are they?

A healthy moisture barrier needs three lipid classes in balance: ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. Phytosterols (plant sterols, often from soy) stand in for cholesterol, and linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid the skin uses to build its own barrier lipids. Together they round out a barrier-repair complex.

What do they do for skin?

• Rebuild the barrier — supply the lipid classes a compromised barrier is missing.
• Calm and soften — help reduce the tightness and reactivity of dry skin.

Where we use them

They’re part of the barrier-lipid complex in Cream Extreme Intensive Repair and Moisture Cloud, alongside ceramides. Read the ceramides guide.

Frequently asked questions

What do phytosterols do for skin?

They act like cholesterol in the barrier, helping rebuild and calm dry, compromised skin alongside ceramides and fatty acids.

Is linoleic acid good for skin?

Yes — it’s an essential fatty acid the skin uses to build barrier lipids, and it helps soften and reinforce the surface.