An organic compound that is most well-known for its use as a sweetener that also protects your teeth from cavities. Xylitol is used in skincare as a moisturizing humectant and has been shown to improve the protective barrier function of the skin.
Moisturizing
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Other functions
Flavor
Flavor
Flavor ingredients bring sweetness to a product or are used to recreate various tastes.
Flavor
Flavor
Flavor ingredients bring sweetness to a product or are used to recreate various tastes.
Origin
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Synthetic
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Synthetic
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Xylitol is an organic compound that is technically an alcohol according to its chemical composition, but whose structure is more similar to simple sugars. It is most well-known for its use as a sweetener that also protects your teeth from cavities.
Xylitol is used in skincare products as a moisturizing humectant ingredient and has been shown to improve the protective barrier function of the skin, thus preventing moisture loss. It can even slow down the growth of some pathogens. It is naturally found in some fruits but is commercially produced from wood pulp.
It is overall a very good and safe ingredient to have in your moisturizing skincare products.
Science
1
Salli, K., Lehtinen, M. J., Tiihonen, K., & Ouwehand, A. C. (2019). Xylitol’s Health Benefits beyond Dental Health: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients, 11(8), 1813.