Aminobutyric Acid

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring amino acid that functions as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and in cosmetics it is leveraged for its proposed ability to temporarily relax facial muscle micro-contractions, offering a topical 'botox-like' smoothing effect on expression lines. It is a small, water-soluble molecule with a zwitterionic character at physiological pH, which facilitates its interaction with skin surface receptors. Formulators choose GABA for anti-aging serums and creams where a non-invasive alternative to injectable neuromodulators is desired, often combining it with peptides and other actives to enhance its visible skin-smoothing benefits.