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Sorbitol
SorbitolHydrator
Sugar alcohol humectant. Less hygroscopic than glycerin; useful in formulations that need a humectant without tackiness.
What it does
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that pulls moisture into the skin similarly to glycerin but with a less pronounced sticky feel. Often appears in lip balms, hand creams, and gentle cleansers as a co-humectant. Generally well tolerated.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusSorbitol functions as a humectant and skin-conditioning agent in cosmetics. Expert-panel review of the sugar alcohols concluded they are safe at present practices of use and concentration.Cherian 2025 · International journal of toxicology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
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