Officially known as alpha glucan oligosaccharide , it's actually a prebiotic derived from sugar molecules that can strengthen our skin's natural barrier. It does so by increasing the healthy bacteria on our skin while decreasing the bad bacteria – just like what yogurt does for our guts (source 1, source 2)!
While alpha glucan doesn't directly hydrate our skin, by maintaining a healthy barrier, we avoid issues like dry skin, eczema, and inflammation (source). Studies have shown that transepidermal water loss, roughness, and dryness decreased significantly when a alpha glucan + collagen peptide treatment was applied (source).
