When you scan the ingredient lists of most mainstream skincare products, you’ll find the usual suspects: hyaluronic acid, retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide. These are the ingredients that dominate magazine covers and dermatologist recommendations. They’re the compounds that skincare brands build entire marketing campaigns around, the names that consumers have learned to look for.
Methylsulfonylmethane doesn’t appear on that list. It probably doesn’t appear on your radar at all.
Yet MSM—this organic sulfur compound with a name that sounds more like a chemistry exam answer than a skincare ingredient—has been quietly accumulating research support for over a decade. Clinical trials have documented its effects on wrinkles, skin firmness, and hydration. Controlled studies have demonstrated significant improvements in rosacea symptoms. Laboratory research has mapped out its anti-inflammatory mechanisms at the molecular level. Athletes have been using it for recovery while the beauty industry largely ignores it.
The disconnect between MSM’s research profile and its market presence is striking. While brands compete to add yet another vitamin C serum to the crowded market, an ingredient with documented clinical benefits remains in the background. This matters because if the research is accurate—and the peer-reviewed evidence suggests it is—millions of people with sensitive skin, inflammatory conditions, and aging concerns are missing out on an option that might actually help them.
This is an examination of what scientists have actually found when they’ve studied MSM for skin health. Not marketing claims. Not anecdotal testimonials. The clinical trials, the controlled experiments, the molecular research. What does the evidence actually show?
Understanding MSM: The Basics Before the Studies
Before examining the research, it helps to understand what MSM actually is and why researchers began investigating it for skin applications in the first place.
Methylsulfonylmethane is an organic sulfur-containing compound that occurs naturally in small amounts in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products like milk. Fresh goat milk, incidentally, contains trace amounts of naturally occurring MSM as part of its complex nutritional profile—one of many reasons traditional cultures have long valued milk for skin health.
The compound is also known by several other names in scientific literature: dimethyl sulfone, methyl sulfone, sulfonylbismethane, and DMSO2. This multiplicity of names occasionally causes confusion when reviewing research, but they all refer to the same molecule. It’s also found naturally in human blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Chemically, it consists of a sulfur atom bonded to two methyl groups and two oxygen atoms—a simple structure that belies its biological complexity.
MSM is the primary oxidized metabolite of dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO. Throughout the mid-1950s to 1970s, DMSO was extensively studied for its remarkable biological properties, including its ability to penetrate cell membranes, its antioxidant capabilities, and its anti-inflammatory effects. Dr. Stanley W. Jacob at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland became one of the leading researchers investigating DMSO’s potential, eventually co-authoring over 100 scientific papers on the compound.
Jacob’s work extended less than an hour from our Washington State farm, making this research history feel particularly relevant. His investigations eventually led to the recognition that some of DMSO’s therapeutic benefits might actually be mediated by its metabolite, MSM. This realization shifted attention to the metabolite itself, which lacked DMSO’s strong garlic-like odor and some of its skin-penetrating intensity while potentially retaining beneficial properties.
In 1981, Dr. Robert Herschler was granted a United States utility patent for the use of MSM to smooth and soften skin, strengthen nails, and improve various health parameters. This early patent recognized MSM’s potential for dermatological applications decades before rigorous clinical trials would validate those claims.
In 2007, a manufacturer of MSM submitted a notification to the U.S. FDA claiming Generally Recognized As Safe status. The FDA responded in 2008 with a letter of non-objection, functionally designating OptiMSM—a branded form of MSM—as GRAS. This designation allowed MSM to be added to processed foods and established a baseline for its safety profile that would later support skincare applications.
The theoretical basis for MSM in skincare rests on sulfur’s fundamental role in skin biology. Sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in the human body, present in every cell. After calcium and phosphorus, it represents a larger portion of body mass than most people realize—approximately 0.25% of total body weight, similar to potassium.
Sulfur’s importance to skin cannot be overstated. It’s a structural component of amino acids like methionine and cysteine, which are essential for building keratin and collagen—the proteins that give skin its strength, structure, and elasticity. Methionine is an essential amino acid that the body cannot synthesize on its own; it must come from dietary sources. Cysteine can be synthesized by the body, but this process requires a steady supply of sulfur.
The disulfide bonds that hold these proteins together require sulfur. These bonds form when two cysteine amino acids link their sulfur atoms together, creating cross-links that give proteins their three-dimensional structure and mechanical strength. Without adequate sulfur, the body cannot properly synthesize the very proteins that determine skin’s appearance and function. Hair is approximately 95% keratin, and this keratin is particularly rich in cysteine-based disulfide bonds. Aging and environmental damage weaken these bonds, leading to the brittleness, dullness, and structural changes we associate with aging skin.
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies have demonstrated that oral doses of MSM are absorbed into the blood and cross the blood-brain barrier. Additional NMR research has found detectable levels of MSM normally present in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that it derives from dietary sources, intestinal bacterial metabolism, and the body’s endogenous methanethiol metabolism. This systemic distribution means that MSM can reach skin tissues when consumed orally, not just when applied topically.
This biochemical foundation made MSM an obvious candidate for skincare research. The question was whether providing bioavailable sulfur through MSM would translate into measurable skin benefits. Researchers began designing studies to find out.
The Landmark Skin Aging Studies: What the Clinical Trials Found
The first rigorous scientific investigation of MSM for skin health was published in 2015 in Natural Medicine Journal. Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial—the gold standard for evaluating treatment effects—to assess MSM’s impact on skin health.
The study began with a preclinical phase examining MSM’s effects at the genetic level. Researchers exposed three-dimensional skin equivalents to a 2.5% MSM solution and evaluated the expression of 92 genes associated with skin function. The results showed that MSM influenced gene expression across multiple pathways related to moisturization and barrier function, extracellular matrix production, and inflammation control.
The genetic findings revealed that MSM regulates the genomic expression of key genes responsible for skin health and the prevention of aging. This wasn’t a single-target effect—MSM appeared to modulate a network of genes working in concert. Some genes showed upregulation, others downregulation, but the overall pattern pointed toward enhanced skin barrier function and reduced inflammatory signaling.
Specifically, the researchers identified changes in genes involved in lipid metabolism critical for barrier function, genes encoding structural proteins like collagen and elastin components, genes regulating inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and genes involved in cellular hydration mechanisms. This multi-pathway effect helps explain why clinical outcomes included improvements across several different skin parameters rather than just one specific change.
The clinical trial itself randomized 20 female participants to receive either 3 grams per day of MSM or placebo over 16 weeks. Skin health was evaluated through expert clinical grading, instrumental measurements using specialized equipment, and participant self-assessment at weeks 8 and 16.
The findings were significant. MSM supplementation produced statistically significant improvements over placebo in expert grading of crow’s feet and skin firmness. Participants also showed statistically significant improvements from their own baseline measurements in crow’s feet, skin firmness, tone, and texture. The researchers concluded that MSM appears to benefit skin health, primarily through reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.
Building on this foundation, a more comprehensive study was published in the International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research in 2020, conducted by researchers Muizzuddin and Benjamin. This study was designed in two parts to both confirm MSM’s efficacy and determine optimal dosing.
In Part I, a pilot study, a panel of 20 participants ingested either 3 grams per day of MSM or placebo capsules for 16 weeks. Visual assessment and subject self-assessment of wrinkles and skin texture served as the primary outcome measures. The results clearly indicated that oral ingestion of MSM at 3 grams daily reduced signs of aging like facial wrinkles and skin roughness compared to placebo, with statistical significance at p less than 0.05.
Part II expanded the investigation with 63 participants divided into two groups: one receiving 3 grams daily, the other receiving 1 gram daily. This dose-response study employed more rigorous evaluation methods, including expert clinical grading, instrumental measurements using corneometer and cutometer devices, and consumer perception surveys.
The instrumental assessments told a compelling story. Corneometer measurements evaluate skin hydration by measuring the electrical capacitance of the stratum corneum—higher capacitance indicates more water content in the skin. Cutometer measurements assess skin firmness and elasticity by applying controlled suction to the skin surface and measuring how it deforms and recovers. These instrumental measurements provide objective data that doesn’t depend on subjective visual assessment.
Both the 1 gram and 3 gram groups showed significant improvement from baseline in the severity of facial wrinkles. Both groups demonstrated improved skin firmness, elasticity, and hydration. Some parameters exhibited a clear dose-response relationship, with the higher dose proving more effective. However, the researchers noted that even the lower dose of 1 gram daily appeared sufficiently effective in reducing visible signs of skin aging.
This finding has practical implications for consumers. While higher doses may provide greater benefits, the research suggests that MSM’s effects aren’t an all-or-nothing phenomenon. Even modest supplementation can produce measurable improvements, which makes the ingredient accessible to people who might not want to take large amounts of any supplement.
The researchers connected their findings to the emerging concept of “inflammaging”—the chronic, low-grade inflammation that characterizes human aging at the cellular level. This term, coined by immunologist Claudio Franceschi, describes how the immune system becomes increasingly pro-inflammatory with age, contributing to the degenerative processes we associate with getting older.
For skin, inflammaging manifests as increased production of inflammatory cytokines, elevated reactive oxygen species, degradation of collagen and elastin, and impaired barrier function. The inflammatory processes that damage joint cartilage and cardiovascular tissue also damage skin—it’s the same underlying biology expressed in a visible organ.
MSM’s documented anti-inflammatory effects position it as a potential intervention against inflammaging. If chronic low-level inflammation drives aging-related skin changes, then an ingredient that reduces inflammatory signaling might slow or partially reverse those changes. The clinical results—improvements in wrinkles, firmness, and elasticity—align with what you would expect if inflammaging were being addressed.
The study’s conclusion was unequivocal: MSM is effective in reducing visual signs of skin aging even at relatively low doses.
Photoaging Protection: The UVB Research
While the aging studies examined MSM’s effects on existing signs of skin aging, separate research investigated whether MSM could protect against the primary external cause of skin aging: ultraviolet radiation.
UV-induced skin aging accounts for approximately 80% of visible facial aging. This striking statistic means that the wrinkles, age spots, and loss of elasticity we associate with getting older are mostly caused by sun exposure rather than chronological aging. UV rays stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species that damage DNA and activate skin aging pathways. This process, known as photoaging, leads to wrinkles, loss of elasticity, uneven pigmentation, and accelerated structural breakdown.
The mechanisms of photoaging are well-characterized. UVB radiation—the portion of UV light most associated with sunburn—penetrates the epidermis and upper dermis. It triggers a cascade of events: oxidative stress as ROS overwhelm antioxidant defenses, activation of matrix metalloproteinases that degrade collagen and elastin, inflammatory signaling that damages surrounding tissue, and DNA mutations that accumulate over time.
Any ingredient that might interrupt this cascade at multiple points could potentially slow photoaging. MSM’s documented antioxidant effects suggest it could neutralize some of the ROS generated by UV exposure. Its anti-inflammatory effects could reduce the inflammatory damage that follows UV insult. Its support for structural proteins could help maintain collagen and elastin despite ongoing degradation pressure.
Researchers at Kyungpook National University in South Korea designed a study to evaluate MSM’s protective effects against UVB-induced skin damage. Published in In Vivo in 2022, the study used a hairless mouse model to eliminate variables related to hair follicle interference and allow precise measurement of skin changes.
The experimental design was rigorous. Mice were divided into groups: a control group not exposed to UVB, a UVB-exposed group receiving only saline, a UVB-exposed group receiving MSM injections, and a UVB-exposed group receiving retinoic acid (a proven anti-aging compound) for comparison. All groups except the control were subjected to UVB irradiation for six weeks—a duration sufficient to produce measurable photoaging changes.
At the end of the experiment, researchers evaluated skin aging through multiple methods: visual assessment of wrinkling using a standardized scoring system, histopathological analysis of tissue samples to examine structural changes at the cellular level, immunohistochemistry to examine expression of key proteins including CD31 (a marker of blood vessel formation), tropoelastin, and fibrillin-1 (components of elastic fibers), and elasticity measurements using scanning electron microscopy.
The results demonstrated that MSM injection in mice subjected to UVB irradiation reduced wrinkle scores and provided protection against photoaging. The mice receiving MSM showed significantly less damage compared to the UVB-only group, with tissue analysis confirming better preservation of skin structure. Expression of elastic fiber components was better maintained in the MSM group.
The comparison with retinoic acid is notable. Retinoic acid is one of the most proven anti-aging compounds in dermatology, with decades of research supporting its effectiveness. The study allowed researchers to benchmark MSM’s effects against this established standard. While the full comparison details require looking at the original research, the inclusion of this comparison group reflects the researchers’ confidence that MSM’s effects would be meaningful enough to warrant such comparison.
The researchers concluded that MSM’s protective effects likely stem from its combined antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can counter the ROS production and inflammatory cascades triggered by UV exposure. While this study used injection rather than topical application, it established that MSM delivered systemically can reach and protect skin tissue from radiation damage.
The implications extend beyond laboratory mice. For humans facing daily UV exposure—whether from outdoor work, athletics, or simply living in sunny climates—ingredients that provide photoprotection beyond sunscreen offer additional lines of defense. Sunscreen blocks UV before it reaches skin. MSM may help mitigate damage from any UV that gets through.
Rosacea: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Perhaps the most striking clinical evidence for topical MSM comes from a study focused on rosacea, the chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by facial redness, visible blood vessels, and sometimes papules and pustules.
Rosacea affects an estimated 16 million Americans and has notoriously limited treatment options. Many rosacea sufferers find that conventional skincare products trigger flare-ups rather than providing relief. The condition is fundamentally inflammatory in nature, making anti-inflammatory ingredients particularly relevant.
For people dealing with rosacea, the skincare landscape can feel impossibly limited. Products marketed as “gentle” or “for sensitive skin” still cause burning, stinging, and increased redness. Ingredients that help most people—retinoids, vitamin C, certain acids—become triggers rather than solutions. The search for products that calm rather than aggravate becomes exhausting.
This context makes clinical research on rosacea particularly valuable. When a study demonstrates that a specific ingredient actually improves rosacea symptoms in a controlled setting, it offers hope to a population that has learned to be skeptical of skincare claims.
In 2008, researchers at the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in Rome, led by Dr. Enzo Berardesca, published a study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology examining a topical treatment combining silymarin (a flavonoid compound from milk thistle) with MSM.
The study enrolled 46 patients affected by stage I through III rosacea—covering the spectrum from mild redness and flushing to moderate cases with papules and visible inflammation. The design was double-blind and placebo-controlled, meaning neither the patients nor the evaluating clinicians knew who was receiving the active treatment versus placebo.
Subjects applied the treatment for one month. Clinical and instrumental evaluations were conducted at baseline, after 10 days, after 20 days, and at the study’s conclusion. The researchers assessed multiple parameters: itching, stinging, erythema (redness), and papules were evaluated clinically. Hydration and erythema were measured instrumentally using capacitance readings and colorimetric measurements.
The colorimetric measurements deserve special mention. These instruments objectively quantify skin color by measuring light reflectance across different wavelengths. In rosacea, the characteristic redness comes from increased hemoglobin visible through dilated blood vessels. Colorimetry can detect changes in redness that might be too subtle for visual assessment or that visual assessment might over- or underestimate due to observer bias. This instrumental approach adds rigor to the clinical findings.
The results achieved statistical significance at p less than 0.001—a remarkably strong finding in dermatological research. Patients in the treatment group showed significant improvement in skin redness, papule count, itching severity, hydration levels, and overall skin color. The inflammatory symptoms that define rosacea responded measurably to the MSM-containing treatment.
The researchers concluded that the combination of silymarin and MSM can be useful in managing symptoms and condition of rosacea skin, especially in the erythemato-telangiectatic subtype characterized primarily by redness and visible blood vessels.
This study is particularly significant because it evaluated topical MSM application specifically, demonstrating that the compound can exert effects when applied directly to skin rather than only when ingested. It also showed benefits in a challenging clinical population—people with inflammatory skin conditions—rather than only in healthy subjects seeking cosmetic improvement.
The Antioxidant Dimension: Beyond Anti-Inflammation
While MSM’s anti-inflammatory effects receive the most attention in research, its antioxidant properties represent an equally important mechanism for skin health.
Oxidative stress—the imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and the body’s ability to neutralize them—damages every component of skin. Lipids oxidize, disrupting membrane integrity and barrier function. Proteins become carbonylated, losing their structure and function. DNA accumulates damage, impairing the cell’s ability to synthesize new proteins correctly. This oxidative damage accelerates with UV exposure, pollution, and normal metabolic processes.
Research has demonstrated that MSM influences the body’s antioxidant systems through multiple mechanisms. Studies in animal models have shown that MSM supplementation significantly increased glutathione levels—glutathione being the body’s “master antioxidant” that neutralizes a wide range of reactive species. One study found that MSM supplementation increased liver glutathione by 78% in mice, suggesting robust enhancement of antioxidant capacity.
MSM also increases catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, two key antioxidant enzymes that break down specific types of reactive oxygen species. Catalase converts hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Superoxide dismutase converts superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide, which catalase then handles. By supporting both enzymes, MSM helps maintain the interconnected antioxidant defense system.
Perhaps most significantly, MSM activates the Nrf2 pathway, sometimes called the “master regulator” of antioxidant response. When Nrf2 translocates to the cell nucleus, it activates transcription of numerous genes encoding antioxidant enzymes and protective proteins. This isn’t just adding antioxidant capacity—it’s upregulating the body’s own production of antioxidant machinery.
The connection between antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory effects is not coincidental. Reactive oxygen species act as signaling molecules that activate inflammatory pathways, including NF-κB. By reducing ROS levels, MSM’s antioxidant effects complement and reinforce its anti-inflammatory effects. The two mechanisms work in concert rather than independently.
For skin, this dual mechanism has practical implications. Sun exposure triggers both oxidative damage and inflammatory responses. Pollution deposits oxidizing compounds on skin while also triggering inflammation. Stress elevates both oxidative and inflammatory markers systemically. An ingredient that addresses both mechanisms simultaneously may provide more comprehensive protection than one targeting only inflammation or only oxidation.
The Molecular Mechanisms: How MSM Actually Works
Clinical results tell us that something is happening, but understanding why it happens requires examining MSM’s mechanisms at the molecular level. Multiple laboratory studies have mapped out how MSM influences the cellular and biochemical processes that govern skin health.
The most thoroughly documented property of MSM is its anti-inflammatory activity. This isn’t marketing language—it’s a research-supported mechanism with specific molecular pathways identified.
A foundational study published in Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin in 2009 by Kim and colleagues investigated MSM’s anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages—immune cells that play central roles in inflammatory responses. The researchers found that MSM significantly inhibited the release of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, two key inflammatory mediators, by reducing the expression of the enzymes that produce them: inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2.
Furthermore, the study demonstrated that MSM decreased production of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, inflammatory cytokines that drive chronic inflammation. The mechanism was traced to MSM’s ability to inhibit the translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB to the cell nucleus. NF-κB is sometimes called the “master switch” of inflammation—when it translocates to the nucleus, it activates transcription of genes that produce inflammatory proteins. By blocking this translocation, MSM essentially prevents the inflammatory cascade from fully activating.
The study also included in vivo experiments demonstrating that topical administration of MSM reduced ear edema in mice—confirming that the anti-inflammatory effects observed in cell cultures translate to living tissue.
Additional research published in Cytokine in 2015 by Ahn and colleagues examined MSM’s effects on a specific inflammatory complex called the NLRP3 inflammasome. The inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that serves as a platform for producing and releasing interleukin-1β, a potent inflammatory cytokine implicated in numerous inflammatory conditions.
The researchers found that MSM significantly attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in both mouse and human macrophages. MSM also reduced the transcriptional expression of interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and NLRP3 itself. Further investigation revealed that MSM attenuated production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species—the signals that often trigger inflammasome activation.
The study concluded that MSM functions as a selective inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and can interrupt inflammatory pathways at multiple points. This multi-target anti-inflammatory mechanism helps explain why MSM shows benefits across different inflammatory skin conditions rather than being limited to one specific application.
A comprehensive review published in Nutrients in 2017 by Butawan, Benjamin, and Bloomer synthesized the evidence on MSM’s mechanisms. The authors noted that MSM influences the activation of at least four types of transcription factors: NF-κB, signal transducers and activators of transcription, p53, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2. By mediating these transcription factors, MSM can regulate the balance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes.
The review detailed how MSM’s inhibition of NF-κB transcriptional activity reduces expression of enzymes and cytokines involved in ROS production. Downregulation of COX-2 and iNOS reduces superoxide radical and nitric oxide production, respectively. These interconnected effects on oxidation and inflammation help explain MSM’s broad-spectrum benefits.
Collagen and Keratin: The Structural Protein Connection
Beyond its anti-inflammatory effects, MSM’s role as a sulfur donor has direct implications for skin structure. The proteins that determine skin’s strength, elasticity, and appearance—collagen and keratin—depend on sulfur for their synthesis and stability.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, providing structural support to skin, bones, tendons, and connective tissues. It consists of three polypeptide chains wound together in a triple helix structure, held together in part by disulfide bonds. These bonds form when two cysteine amino acids—sulfur-containing amino acids—link their sulfur atoms together.
Keratin, the protein that gives skin its barrier function and comprises hair and nails, is even more dependent on sulfur. Keratin is particularly rich in cysteine, and the disulfide bonds between cysteine residues give keratin its strength and resistance. When skin, hair, or nails become brittle or weak, sulfur deficiency in these structural proteins may be a contributing factor.
The theoretical case for MSM supporting structural protein synthesis is straightforward: if the body needs sulfur to build collagen and keratin, and if MSM provides bioavailable sulfur, then MSM supplementation should support the body’s ability to produce these essential proteins.
The gene expression studies provide some support for this theory. When researchers examined how MSM affected gene expression in skin equivalents, they found changes in genes associated with extracellular matrix production—the structural framework that includes collagen. The downstream effects observed in clinical trials, including improved skin firmness and elasticity, are consistent with enhanced structural protein integrity.
Since its initial patent awarded to Dr. Robert Herschler in 1981, MSM has been suggested to have therapeutic uses for improving skin quality and texture by acting as a sulfur donor to keratin. The comprehensive review in Nutrients noted this historical foundation while acknowledging that more research directly measuring collagen synthesis in response to MSM would strengthen the evidence base.
What the current research establishes is that MSM supplementation leads to measurable improvements in skin parameters that reflect structural protein function—firmness, elasticity, and wrinkle depth. Whether this occurs primarily through enhanced protein synthesis, reduced degradation of existing proteins by inflammatory processes, or some combination of both mechanisms remains an active area of investigation.
Athletic Recovery and Skin: The Exercise Studies
MSM’s research profile extends beyond traditional skincare studies into sports medicine and exercise science. This intersection is particularly relevant because exercise itself creates oxidative stress and inflammatory responses that affect skin, and because athletes often have specific skincare needs that mainstream products fail to address.
Our family understands this intersection intimately. With NCAA Division I athletes training and competing in track and field—high jump, pole vault, hurdles, multi-events—we’ve seen firsthand how intense training affects skin. The hours of outdoor exposure bring UV damage. The sweat and repeated washing disrupt the skin barrier. The metabolic demands of high-level competition create systemic oxidative stress that manifests throughout the body, including skin.
When you’re training at that level, generic skincare advice doesn’t cut it. Products designed for sedentary populations assume a baseline of stable, minimally stressed skin. Athletes need ingredients that support recovery and resilience, not just maintenance.
Several clinical trials have examined MSM’s effects on exercise-induced oxidative stress, muscle damage, and recovery. While these studies weren’t focused specifically on skin outcomes, their findings illuminate MSM’s biological effects in ways that translate directly to skin health.
A pilot study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in 2012 examined MSM’s influence on markers of exercise recovery and performance in healthy men. Eight moderately exercise-trained men were randomly assigned to ingest MSM at either 1.5 grams or 3.0 grams per day for 30 days. Before and after the supplementation period, subjects performed intensive knee extension exercise designed to induce muscle damage.
The researchers measured muscle soreness, fatigue, antioxidant status including glutathione and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity, and blood homocysteine levels. The results showed a trend toward reduced muscle soreness with 3.0 grams versus 1.5 grams of MSM. Fatigue was slightly reduced with MSM supplementation. Most significantly, TEAC—a global measure of antioxidant capacity—increased significantly following exercise in the 3.0 grams per day group.
The researchers concluded that MSM, especially when provided at 3.0 grams per day, may favorably influence selected markers of exercise recovery. The finding that MSM increased antioxidant capacity after exercise suggests it helps maintain or bolster the body’s defense systems when they’re challenged by physical stress.
A more comprehensive study was published in the same journal in 2017. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated MSM’s effects in participants from the Portland Half-Marathon. Twenty-two healthy participants were randomized to take either MSM at 3 grams per day or placebo for 21 days before the race and two days after.
Researchers measured markers of oxidative stress including 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde, markers of muscle damage including creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, and muscle and joint pain levels.
Participation in the half-marathon was associated with significantly increased markers of oxidative stress, muscle damage, and pain—exactly what exercise physiology would predict. While the time-by-treatment results didn’t reach statistical significance for outcome measures, the MSM group saw clinically significant reductions in both muscle and joint pain compared to placebo.
This finding is particularly relevant to skincare because it demonstrates MSM’s systemic effects on inflammation and tissue stress even under challenging conditions. The mechanisms that reduce post-exercise pain and inflammation—NF-κB inhibition, reduced cytokine production, enhanced antioxidant capacity—are the same mechanisms that benefit skin.
A 2016 study published in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition examined MSM’s effects on inflammatory cytokine response to exercise. Physically active men supplemented with either placebo or MSM at 3 grams per day for 28 days before performing eccentric knee extension exercise. The researchers found that MSM supplementation reduced the induction of interleukin-1β in response to inflammatory stimulation and maintained robust immune responsiveness that was suppressed in the placebo group.
For athletes seeking skincare solutions, these studies suggest that MSM supports the body’s ability to handle the inflammatory and oxidative challenges that come with intense training. Skin that’s chronically exposed to exercise-induced stress—from sun exposure during outdoor training, sweat, repeated washing, and the metabolic effects of high physical output—may particularly benefit from MSM’s broad-spectrum protective effects.
Combination Studies: MSM with Other Active Ingredients
Several studies have examined MSM in combination with other ingredients, providing insight into how it works synergistically with complementary compounds.
A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2019 evaluated a multicomponent nutraceutical containing hyaluronic acid, L-carnosine, and MSM for facial skin aesthetics. The randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind trial enrolled 50 female subjects with facial photoaging, divided into treatment and placebo groups.
For two months, volunteers took a daily dose containing 200 mg of hyaluronic acid, 500 mg of L-carnosine, and 400 mg of MSM, or placebo. Researchers measured skin hydration, elasticity, and sebum levels using instrumental skin testers, and scored digital images of facial wrinkles.
The results showed significant improvements in facial skin hydration and elasticity in the treatment group compared to placebo, along with decreased sebaceous secretions. The combination approach appeared to produce benefits beyond what any single ingredient might achieve alone.
This finding aligns with the mechanistic understanding of how MSM works. Hyaluronic acid provides hydration and plumping effects. L-carnosine offers antioxidant and anti-glycation benefits. MSM contributes anti-inflammatory effects and sulfur for structural proteins. Together, these ingredients address different aspects of skin aging through complementary pathways.
The silk sericin study published in Applied Sciences in 2022 explored another combination approach. Researchers formulated blends of sericin—a protein from silk with wound-healing properties—with MSM at various ratios and investigated their effects on inflammatory response and wound healing in cell cultures.
The experimental findings demonstrated that MSM’s anti-inflammatory activity was more effective when blended with sericin. The combination showed synergistic effects on reducing inflammatory pathway activation via NF-κB, COX-2, and iNOS. Interestingly, MSM alone at higher concentrations somewhat delayed wound healing, but this effect was mitigated when MSM was combined with sericin.
This research suggests that MSM’s benefits in skincare formulations may depend partly on what it’s combined with. Thoughtful formulation that pairs MSM with complementary ingredients can enhance its positive effects while minimizing any limitations.
Safety Profile: What the Research Shows
Any ingredient’s clinical potential must be weighed against its safety profile. MSM has accumulated substantial safety data through both formal studies and decades of consumer use.
The comprehensive review in Nutrients examined toxicity data from multiple sources. In animal studies, MSM’s LD50—the dose lethal to 50% of test subjects, used as a standard toxicity measure—exceeded 17.5 grams per kilogram of body weight. For context, this extremely high LD50 indicates very low acute toxicity. Extensive research in animal models indicates MSM has very low toxicity when administered both orally and topically.
The FDA’s GRAS designation provides regulatory validation of MSM’s safety for human consumption. This designation followed review of substantial safety data and allows MSM to be added to food products.
Human clinical trials have consistently reported good tolerability. The skin aging studies at 1 gram and 3 grams daily over 16 weeks reported no significant adverse effects. The exercise studies at 3 grams daily showed MSM was well-tolerated. The rosacea study evaluating topical application on sensitive, inflammation-prone skin found the treatment acceptable for this challenging population.
The review authors concluded that MSM is well-tolerated by most individuals at dosages of up to four grams daily, with few known and mild side effects. The mild side effects occasionally reported include gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating or diarrhea at higher doses.
For topical application, safety data is similarly reassuring. According to final study reports cited in the comprehensive review, MSM is non-irritating to skin in patch testing. One study found MSM may be slightly irritating to skin in sensitive test subjects, but this represents the outer boundary of reported issues.
For people with sensitive or compromised skin—exactly the population that might most benefit from MSM’s anti-inflammatory properties—the safety profile is particularly encouraging. The rosacea study demonstrated that even skin prone to reactive flare-ups can tolerate topical MSM application over a month-long treatment period.
Why MSM Remains Under the Radar
Given the clinical evidence supporting MSM for skin health, the obvious question is why it hasn’t achieved the prominence of ingredients with less robust research backing.
Several factors likely contribute to this disconnect.
First, MSM lacks the marketing appeal of ingredients that can be associated with specific visible mechanisms or exotic origins. Hyaluronic acid is “the molecule that holds 1,000 times its weight in water.” Retinol is “the gold standard vitamin A derivative.” Vitamin C is “the antioxidant powerhouse.” Peptides come with pseudo-scientific names that sound impressive in advertisements. MSM is “the organic sulfur compound”—accurate but not particularly evocative.
Second, the research on MSM has been somewhat fragmented across different journals and disciplines. Skin aging studies appeared in nutrition and vitamin research journals. The rosacea study was published in a cosmetic dermatology journal. Exercise studies appeared in sports nutrition publications. Mechanistic research appeared in pharmacology and cell biology journals. There hasn’t been a concentrated effort to synthesize this evidence for skincare industry decision-makers.
Third, MSM is a commodity ingredient without patent protection, meaning no single company has strong financial incentive to fund the kind of expensive clinical trials and marketing campaigns that launch “breakthrough” skincare ingredients. When a company develops a proprietary compound, they can recoup research and marketing investments through premium pricing and exclusive positioning. MSM is available from multiple suppliers, limiting any individual company’s ability to differentiate based on this ingredient.
Fourth, the skincare industry tends to follow trends rather than research. When influencers and beauty editors champion an ingredient, brands rush to incorporate it regardless of the underlying evidence base. When research accumulates quietly in academic journals without generating social media attention, brands have less incentive to act on it.
Fifth, MSM’s primary association for consumers is with joint supplements, not skincare. Walk into any health food store, and you’ll find MSM in the joint health section, often combined with glucosamine and chondroitin. This positioning, while grounded in valid research, creates a mental category that doesn’t immediately connect to beauty and skincare.
The result is a gap between evidence and availability that ultimately disserves consumers. People suffering from inflammatory skin conditions, looking for anti-aging solutions, or needing skincare that supports athletic lifestyles may never encounter an option that research suggests could help them.
The Sensitive Skin Problem: Why Current Options Fail
To understand why MSM matters, consider the experience of someone with sensitive, reactive, or inflammation-prone skin. This isn’t a small population—surveys suggest that 40-60% of people self-identify as having sensitive skin, and even if that number is inflated by cosmetic industry marketing, a substantial portion of the population experiences skin that doesn’t tolerate conventional products well.
For these consumers, the skincare market presents an impossible dilemma. Effective anti-aging ingredients like retinoids, AHAs, and vitamin C in its active forms often cause irritation, burning, and increased sensitivity. “Gentle” products marketed for sensitive skin frequently contain bland formulations that don’t actually improve skin condition—they just don’t make it worse. The choice seems to be between products that work but hurt and products that don’t hurt but don’t work.
This frustration is well-documented in consumer reviews and online forums. Comments like “my skin hates everything” and “it’s really hard to find companies that actually mean it when they advertise for sensitive skin” reflect the lived experience of millions of people searching for products that provide benefits without triggering reactions.
The research on MSM suggests it might thread this needle. Here’s an ingredient with documented effects on wrinkles, firmness, hydration, and inflammation—effects comparable to more aggressive actives—but with a gentle safety profile that even rosacea patients tolerated in clinical trials. The anti-inflammatory mechanism actively calms reactive skin rather than potentially triggering it. The lack of harsh chemical activity avoids the irritation potential of acids and retinoids.
For consumers who have given up on finding products that actually work for their sensitive skin, MSM represents an alternative path worth exploring.
What This Means for Different Skin Concerns
The research on MSM points toward several applications where it may be particularly beneficial.
For inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and chronic sensitivity, MSM’s documented anti-inflammatory mechanisms address the underlying pathology rather than merely masking symptoms. The rosacea study provides direct clinical support for this application. The ability to reduce NF-κB activation, inflammasome activity, and inflammatory cytokine production suggests MSM could help calm reactive skin across multiple inflammatory conditions.
What makes MSM particularly interesting for inflammatory conditions is the gentleness of its mechanism. Many anti-inflammatory approaches in skincare rely on either occluding the skin to reduce environmental triggers, using active compounds that can themselves cause irritation in sensitive individuals, or suppressing immune function in ways that have other consequences. MSM operates through more fundamental regulatory mechanisms—modulating the signaling pathways that initiate and amplify inflammation rather than just blocking downstream effects.
For people who have tried multiple products for their inflammatory skin conditions without success, MSM represents a genuinely different approach worth considering.
For aging skin, the clinical trials demonstrating improvements in wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, and hydration provide strong support. MSM appears to work through multiple pathways: reducing inflammatory aging processes, supporting structural protein maintenance, and protecting against oxidative damage. The dose-response findings suggest that even modest amounts may provide measurable benefits.
The anti-aging mechanism is worth unpacking. “Anti-aging” in skincare often means one of a few things: stimulating collagen production (retinoids, peptides), preventing collagen breakdown (antioxidants), improving hydration (hyaluronic acid, glycerin), or accelerating cell turnover (AHAs, retinoids). MSM appears to contribute across multiple categories: providing sulfur for collagen synthesis, reducing the inflammatory processes that degrade collagen, supporting antioxidant systems that protect existing collagen, and improving hydration as measured by corneometer.
This multi-pathway action may explain why clinical improvements appeared across several skin parameters rather than just one. MSM isn’t a one-target ingredient—it influences skin health through multiple mechanisms simultaneously.
For athletic skin facing unique stresses from training, competition, and environmental exposure, MSM’s demonstrated effects on exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation make it a logical ingredient choice. Athletes often find that mainstream skincare products designed for sedentary populations don’t adequately address their needs. The exercise studies suggest MSM can help skin cope with the demands of an active lifestyle.
Athletes face a particular combination of challenges. Extended outdoor exposure brings UV damage. Intense physical exertion creates systemic oxidative stress and inflammation that affects all tissues, including skin. Frequent sweating and washing disrupts the skin barrier. Heat and friction from athletic clothing and equipment creates localized irritation. Chlorine from pools, salt from sweat, and other environmental exposures add additional stresses.
Mainstream skincare advice—gentle cleansers, daily moisturizers, weekly exfoliation—doesn’t adequately address these compounding challenges. Athletes need ingredients that support recovery and resilience at a more fundamental level. MSM’s systemic effects on oxidative stress and inflammation position it well for this population.
For anyone seeking anti-inflammatory skincare without harsh or sensitizing ingredients, MSM offers a research-supported option that doesn’t rely on aggressive mechanisms. Many anti-inflammatory approaches in skincare—like certain acids or retinoids—can irritate sensitive skin even while theoretically reducing inflammation. MSM’s gentle safety profile makes it compatible with sensitivity while still delivering active benefits.
The rosacea study is instructive here. These were patients whose skin reacted negatively to conventional products—people who had learned through experience that most skincare made their condition worse, not better. Yet they tolerated the MSM-containing treatment over the full month of the study. For people in similar situations, watching their skin tolerate an ingredient that actually improves their condition—rather than choosing between tolerability and effectiveness—represents a meaningful development.
The Fresh Milk Connection: Why Formulation Context Matters
Here on our Washington State farm, we’ve included MSM in every product we formulate—from Face Cream to Active Cream to Muscle Cream. This isn’t a marketing decision. It’s a formulation philosophy grounded in the research.
My mother, Lisa, has been formulating products in her kitchen for our family of athletes for over 30 years. When she founded Artisan The Goat in 2017, she brought that experience and that philosophy to commercial production. The decision to include MSM in every product reflects what she observed over decades: ingredients that support inflammation management and structural protein health benefit skin consistently, across different use cases and skin types.
MSM’s effects don’t exist in isolation. Like any active ingredient, how it’s delivered matters as much as whether it’s present. The vehicle—the cream, lotion, or serum that carries the active ingredient to skin—affects absorption, bioavailability, and how the ingredient interacts with skin’s natural systems.
Fresh goat milk provides an optimal matrix for MSM delivery. Milk’s natural fats help carry lipophilic compounds into the stratum corneum. Its proteins create a conditioning film that supports ingredient penetration. Its pH closely matches skin’s acid mantle, minimizing disruption while ingredients are absorbed. The lactic acid naturally present in fresh goat milk provides gentle exfoliation that can enhance penetration of other actives.
This matters because goat milk skincare is not all created equal. Many brands that claim to use goat milk actually use powdered, reconstituted milk—essentially milk that’s been dried, stored, and rehydrated. This processing degrades many of milk’s beneficial compounds. When you look at ingredient lists and find “goat milk powder” listed after fragrance or preservatives, you’re looking at a token inclusion rather than a functional ingredient.
Our goats graze on our Washington State property. Their milk travels less than 100 feet from the milking room to our cleanroom formulation facility. There are no middlemen, no storage, no reconstitution from powder. The MSM we incorporate works within this fresh milk matrix rather than being suspended in a synthetic base.
When MSM is incorporated into a fresh goat milk base rather than a synthetic water-gel formulation, it benefits from this delivery advantage. The ingredient reaches skin within a nourishing context rather than arriving isolated.
This matters particularly for MSM’s anti-inflammatory benefits. Inflammation often involves compromised barrier function—when skin’s protective layers are disrupted, inflammatory triggers penetrate more easily and inflammatory mediators escape more readily. A formulation that supports barrier repair while delivering anti-inflammatory actives addresses both sides of this equation.
Our family’s background in athletics—with NCAA Division I competitors training and competing at the highest levels—means we understand firsthand how physical demands affect skin. The research on MSM for exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation aligns with what we’ve observed. Active skin needs ingredients that support recovery and resilience, not just superficial improvement.
Active Cream and Muscle Cream both feature MSM alongside other research-supported ingredients like arnica, glucosamine, and chondroitin. The MSM contributes systemic anti-inflammatory support while the other ingredients address specific aspects of recovery and comfort. This combination approach mirrors the strategy used in successful clinical research: identifying ingredients with complementary mechanisms and combining them for enhanced effect.
The glucosamine and chondroitin in Active Cream are shellfish-free, addressing a significant gap in the market. Many people who could benefit from these ingredients have shellfish allergies that prevent them from using conventional formulations. This attention to accessibility reflects a broader philosophy: effective skincare shouldn’t exclude people based on common allergens or sensitivities.
Face Cream includes MSM as part of a comprehensive anti-aging formulation. The research documenting MSM’s effects on wrinkles, firmness, and hydration supports its role in daily skincare aimed at maintaining healthy, youthful skin. Combined with fresh goat milk’s natural lactic acid and nutrient profile, the formulation provides multiple pathways for skin improvement.
Reading Labels: What to Look For
If the MSM research persuades you to seek out this ingredient, understanding how to identify it in products becomes important.
MSM may appear on ingredient labels under several names: methylsulfonylmethane, dimethyl sulfone, or methyl sulfone. The Chemical Abstracts Service registry number is 67-71-0. Any of these names indicates the same compound.
Placement on the ingredient list matters. Ingredients are listed in descending order by concentration, so MSM appearing high on the list indicates a meaningful amount. MSM appearing after fragrances or preservatives suggests minimal inclusion—possibly enough to claim the ingredient is present, but not enough to expect the benefits documented in research.
The research studies used MSM at specific dosages: 1 to 3 grams daily for oral supplementation, meaningful topical concentrations for the rosacea study. Products providing substantially less may not deliver comparable effects.
Formulation context also matters, as discussed. MSM in a thoughtfully designed formulation with complementary ingredients may perform better than MSM in a basic vehicle, even at equivalent concentrations. Looking for products that combine MSM with other research-supported ingredients—rather than using it as a single “hero” ingredient—aligns with how successful clinical studies have approached formulation.
The Evidence Summary
Reviewing the totality of research on MSM for skin health, several conclusions emerge.
Clinical evidence supports MSM for reducing visible signs of aging. Multiple controlled trials have documented improvements in wrinkles, skin firmness, elasticity, and hydration. Both oral and topical administration can produce benefits. Even modest doses (1 gram daily orally) may be effective. The effects have been measured through objective instrumental assessment, not just subjective visual evaluation. Changes appear across multiple parameters simultaneously, suggesting systemic improvement rather than isolated effects.
Clinical evidence supports MSM for inflammatory skin conditions. The rosacea study demonstrated significant improvements in redness, papules, itching, and hydration with topical application. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms are well-characterized at the molecular level. The statistical significance was remarkably strong at p less than 0.001. Importantly, this challenging patient population—people whose skin typically reacts negatively to skincare products—tolerated the treatment well.
Laboratory research has identified specific mechanisms. MSM inhibits NF-κB translocation, reduces inflammasome activation, decreases inflammatory cytokine production, and protects against oxidative stress. These mechanisms help explain its clinical effects. The multi-target nature of MSM’s activity—affecting several inflammatory and oxidative pathways rather than just one—helps explain why it shows benefits across different skin concerns.
Exercise studies demonstrate systemic benefits. MSM supplementation improves antioxidant capacity, reduces inflammatory markers, and may decrease pain and soreness following intense physical activity. These findings have implications for athletic skincare. They also suggest that MSM’s benefits extend beyond skin to other tissues experiencing inflammatory and oxidative stress.
Gene expression studies reveal fundamental effects. MSM modulates the expression of genes involved in barrier function, extracellular matrix production, inflammation, and hydration. This gene-level activity suggests that MSM’s effects are more than superficial—it influences the cellular programming that determines skin’s baseline condition.
Safety data is reassuring. Extensive animal and human research indicates MSM is well-tolerated at typical use levels. Even sensitive, inflammation-prone skin can tolerate topical MSM application. The FDA’s GRAS designation provides regulatory validation. Decades of consumer use have not revealed significant safety concerns.
The research base is not without limitations. Studies have generally involved modest sample sizes. More large-scale trials would strengthen the evidence. Direct comparisons with other anti-aging or anti-inflammatory ingredients are limited. More research on topical MSM specifically for skin aging (as opposed to rosacea) would be valuable. The optimal concentration for topical products hasn’t been definitively established.
But for an ingredient that receives minimal attention from the mainstream skincare industry, MSM has accumulated a notable body of supporting research. The evidence suggests it deserves consideration for anyone seeking anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, or recovery-supporting skincare—particularly those who haven’t found satisfactory results from more heavily marketed ingredients.
Beyond the Hype Cycle
The skincare industry runs on hype cycles. An ingredient emerges, gets championed by influencers and beauty editors, appears in countless new product launches, saturates the market, and eventually fades as the next trend takes hold. Throughout this cycle, the actual evidence supporting the ingredient may be thin, moderate, or robust—the hype intensity doesn’t correlate well with research quality.
Consider the trajectory of some recent skincare trends. CBD exploded into the skincare market with claims about anti-inflammatory and anti-aging benefits, but the research specifically on topical CBD for skin health remains limited. Bakuchiol was positioned as a “natural retinol alternative” before substantial comparative trials existed. Adaptogens became trendy ingredients despite unclear mechanisms for topical benefit.
This isn’t to say these ingredients don’t work—some may prove quite valuable as research catches up to marketing. The point is that marketing buzz and scientific evidence operate on different timelines. The skincare industry consistently jumps ahead of the research when an ingredient captures consumer imagination, then moves on before the research can validate or invalidate the claims.
MSM has never entered the hype cycle. It’s been quietly accumulating research support while flashier ingredients have risen and fallen. The first rigorous skin study was published in 2015. More studies followed through 2020, 2022, and beyond. The mechanistic research dates back further. Yet this decade-plus of accumulating evidence hasn’t generated beauty industry excitement.
This creates an unusual opportunity: an ingredient with genuine evidence that hasn’t been overpromised, overexposed, or overdone.
For consumers frustrated with skincare products that don’t deliver on their promises, MSM represents something different. Not a breakthrough marketed before its research caught up. Not a trend ingredient whose benefits are more theoretical than proven. An established compound with documented effects that the market has largely ignored.
The research is there. The mechanisms are understood. The safety profile is established. The question is whether you’ll find products that actually include MSM at meaningful levels in thoughtfully designed formulations—or whether you’ll continue encountering the same overexposed ingredients that dominate shelves while this quieter option remains in the background.
A Note on Expectations
It’s worth addressing what MSM is and isn’t, based on the research.
MSM is an ingredient with documented benefits for skin health, supported by clinical trials showing measurable improvements in wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, hydration, and inflammatory symptoms. These effects are real, reproducible, and statistically significant.
MSM is not a miracle ingredient that will transform skin overnight. The clinical trials showing benefits required 16 weeks of consistent use. Results were improvements over baseline and improvements over placebo—meaningful changes but not miraculous transformations. This timeline is consistent with how skin biology works: it takes time for cellular changes to manifest as visible improvements.
MSM works through well-understood mechanisms—anti-inflammatory signaling, antioxidant enhancement, structural protein support—rather than exotic or mysterious pathways. This is actually reassuring: we understand why it works, which increases confidence that the observed effects are real rather than placebo or chance.
MSM appears to be particularly well-suited for certain populations: those with inflammatory skin conditions, those with sensitive or reactive skin, those seeking anti-aging benefits without irritation, and athletes whose skin faces specific stresses. Other populations may benefit too, but the research most directly supports these applications.
MSM may not be sufficient on its own for severe skin conditions that require medical intervention. It’s a skincare ingredient, not a medication. People with serious dermatological conditions should work with healthcare providers rather than relying solely on cosmetic products.
Setting realistic expectations matters because the skincare industry has trained consumers to expect miracles from every new ingredient. This leads to disappointment when products perform modestly rather than dramatically. MSM offers genuine benefits—but genuine benefits, not miracles.
Making the Choice
If the MSM research resonates with your skin concerns, the practical question becomes how to incorporate this ingredient into your skincare routine.
The oral supplementation route has the most extensive research. Studies used doses of 1 to 3 grams daily, with effects emerging over 8 to 16 weeks. MSM is widely available as a dietary supplement, often in the joint health section of stores. The FDA’s GRAS designation and extensive safety research provide confidence in this route.
Topical products containing MSM offer more direct delivery to skin. The rosacea study demonstrated that topical application can produce measurable improvements. The challenge is finding products that contain meaningful amounts of MSM rather than token inclusion.
When evaluating topical products, look for MSM appearing early in the ingredient list—ideally in the first third of ingredients. Consider the overall formulation: is MSM working alongside complementary ingredients, or is it isolated in a basic vehicle? Research the brand’s approach to formulation and ingredient quality.
On our Washington State farm, we made our choice years ago. MSM goes into every product we make. The research supported it then, and it supports it more strongly now. Combined with fresh goat milk from our herd—not reconstituted powder, not a token ingredient, but actually the primary component of our formulations—MSM has a delivery matrix that supports its activity.
The ingredient nobody’s talking about may be exactly what your skin needs.
References
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