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Humectant
Active ingredient categoryDraws water into skin and helps retain moisture, keeping it hydrated and plump.
Why it matters: Humectants attract water molecules from the air and deeper skin layers to the surface. Without them, skin loses moisture rapidly and feels tight or flaky.
All humectant ingredients in the databaseA–Z · Click to learn more
1,2-Hexanediol
Hexylene Glycol Derivative
Acetyl Glucosamine
N-Acetyl Glucosamine · Acetyl Glucosamine
Acetylated Hyaluronic Acid
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera · Aloe Vera Juice
Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
Ammonium Lactate
Ammonium 2-Hydroxypropanoate · Neutralised Lactic Acid
Beta-Glucan
Betaine
Trimethylglycine
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Blue Agave Extract
Butylene Glycol
Caprylyl Glycol
1,2-Octanediol · Octylene Glycol
Cationic Hyaluronic Acid
Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid
Dextran
Ectoin
Gluconolactone
Glycereth-26
Glycerin
Glycerine · Vegetable Glycerin
Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronan · Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HSH
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Inositol
Vitamin B8
Lactic Acid
2-Hydroxypropanoic Acid · Milk Acid
Lactobionic Acid
Mannose
Panthenol
D-Panthenol · Provitamin B5
Panthenyl Triacetate
PCA
Pyroglutamic Acid · PCA
PEG-8
Polyethylene Glycol 8
Pentylene Glycol
Polyglutamic Acid
PGA
Polyglycerin-3
Polyglyceryl-3
Polyquaternium-51
Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
PAD
Propanediol
1,3-Propanediol · Zemea
Propylene Glycol
1,2-Propanediol · PG
Saccharide Isomerate
Pentavitin
Sodium Lactate
Sodium PCA
Sodium Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid · Sodium Pyroglutamate
Sorbitol
Trehalose
Urea
Carbamide
Xylitol
Zinc PCA
Zinc Pyrrolidone Carboxylate · Zinc Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid