Beauty Glossary: Humectant

Moisturizers:  Humectants

Derived from Latin humectus (moist)

Humectants are a class of conditioners for hair and skin that work by absorbing water from the environment and promoting water retention.

A humectant is a hygroscopic substance. It is often a molecule with several hydrophilic groups, most often hydroxyl groups, but amines and carboxyl groups, sometimes esterified, can be encountered as well; the affinity to form hydrogen bonds with molecules of water is crucial here.  (Wikipedia)

Humectants are also used in cosmetic preparations for the purposes of avoiding water loss and forming “skins” on the products themselves.

Potential negatives:  Too much can cause hair or skin to feel sticky.  In low environmental humidity situations, humectants can actually pull moisture from deep within the skin and release it into the environment.

Humectants you might find in your cosmetics:

• Glycerin
• Sorbitol
• Glycol
• Dipropylene glycol
• Ammonium lactate
• Propylene glycerol
• Polyethylene glycols
• Glyceryl Triacetate
• Sodium Pyrollidone Carboxylic Acid (Sodium PCA)
• Butylene Glycol
• Honey
• Sorbitol
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Urea