Humectants
- Chemicals
- 209
- Suppliers
- 3,885
About humectants
Humectants attract and hold water, keeping skin and hair moisturised and products from drying out. The main humectants are glycerin, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, propanediol, pentylene glycol, sorbitol, urea, sodium lactate, sodium PCA, betaine, panthenol and hyaluronic acid and its sodium salt.
Read more about humectantsShow less
Glycerin is the most widely used, available in vegetable or synthetic grades at 99.5 percent and higher. Bio-based 1,3-propanediol made by fermentation has become a popular alternative to propylene glycol. Hyaluronic acid is sold in different molecular weight ranges, and the molecular weight affects how it feels and where it acts on the skin.
Ask for the INCI name, assay, water content, colour, odour, heavy metals and, for glycerin, diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol limits, since contamination with these toxic glycols has caused serious incidents in medicines. For hyaluronic acid, ask for molecular weight, protein content and microbiological limits. Many humectants double as solvents and help preserve formulas by lowering water activity.
Top humectants
Showing 1 to 48 of 209 chemicals, most searched and traded first.
- CopperCAS 7440-50-8Cu136 suppliers
D-GlucoseCAS 50-99-7C6H12O6303 suppliers
GlycerolCAS 56-81-5C3H8O3992 suppliers
Sodium chlorideCAS 7647-14-5ClNa587 suppliers
Lactic acidCAS 50-21-5C3H6O3440 suppliers
L-Glutamic acidCAS 56-86-0C5H9NO4217 suppliers
UreaCAS 57-13-6CH4N2O338 suppliers
SucroseCAS 57-50-1C12H22O11152 suppliers
L-HistidineCAS 71-00-1C6H9N3O2182 suppliers
MannitolCAS 69-65-8C6H14O6255 suppliers
Ammonium lactateCAS 515-98-0C3H9NO351 suppliers
Deoxycholic acidCAS 83-44-3C24H40O497 suppliers
SorbitolCAS 50-70-4C6H14O6427 suppliers
(+)-LactoseCAS 63-42-3C12H22O1143 suppliers
TrehaloseCAS 99-20-7C12H22O1178 suppliers
An inositolCAS 87-89-8C6H12O6276 suppliers
BetaineCAS 107-43-7C5H11NO2202 suppliers
Choline chlorideCAS 67-48-1C5H14ClNO218 suppliers
Aluminum hydroxideCAS 21645-51-2H3AlO3286 suppliers
Propylene glycolCAS 57-55-6C3H8O2757 suppliers
LactuloseCAS 4618-18-2C12H22O1151 suppliers
D-FructoseCAS 57-48-7C6H12O656 suppliers
GlycyrrhizinCAS 1405-86-3C42H62O1686 suppliers
GlycogenCAS 9005-79-2C24H42O2138 suppliers
ThioureaCAS 62-56-6CH4N2S219 suppliers
Ethylene glycolCAS 107-21-1C2H6O2821 suppliers
Guanosine monophosphateCAS 85-32-5C10H14N5O8P58 suppliers
DemannoseCAS 3458-28-4C6H12O677 suppliers
L-Aspartic acid, sodium saltCAS 17090-93-6C4H5NO4-27 suppliers
MaltoseCAS 69-79-4C12H22O1154 suppliers
Magnesium stearateCAS 557-04-0C36H70MgO4317 suppliers
beta-AlanineCAS 107-95-9C3H7NO2191 suppliers
L-Pyroglutamic acidCAS 98-79-3C5H7NO3117 suppliers
Dipotassium glycyrrhizinateCAS 68797-35-3C42H60K2O1657 suppliers
1,3-PropanediolCAS 504-63-2C3H8O2114 suppliers
Monosodium glucuronateCAS 14984-34-0C6H9NaO735 suppliers
Sphingosine 1-phosphateCAS 26993-30-6C18H38NO5P45 suppliers
D-RiboseCAS 50-69-1C5H10O548 suppliers
5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfuralCAS 67-47-0C6H6O3122 suppliers
IsosorbideCAS 652-67-5C6H10O487 suppliers
Ginsenoside Rg1CAS 22427-39-0C42H72O1463 suppliers
L-RhamnoseCAS 3615-41-6C6H12O516 suppliers
N-Acetyl-D-galactosamineCAS 1811-31-0C8H15NO646 suppliers
Ferric sulfateCAS 10028-22-5Fe2O12S3133 suppliers
1,3-ButanediolCAS 107-88-0C4H10O2132 suppliers
UmbelliferoneCAS 93-35-6C9H6O384 suppliers
1,5-AnhydroglucitolCAS 154-58-5C6H12O529 suppliers
CellobioseCAS 528-50-7C12H22O1115 suppliers
Top suppliers of humectants
Manufacturers and traders with live products in this category. Paid members appear first.
Humectants suppliers by country
Countries with at least 5 suppliers in this category. Open one to see its manufacturers and traders.
- China891
- India742
- United States697
- Canada114
- Germany106
- Japan81
- South Korea79
- United Kingdom73
- Turkey52
- Thailand43
- Italy42
- Singapore35
- Vietnam34
- France30
- Netherlands30
- Spain29
- Indonesia29
- Malaysia29
- Russia24
- United Arab Emirates23
- Australia21
- Egypt21
- Poland21
- South Africa21
- Iran18
- Brazil17
- Bangladesh16
- Pakistan16
- Mexico15
- Philippines15
- Belgium13
- New Zealand13
- Saudi Arabia12
- Switzerland11
- Austria10
- Colombia10
- Denmark10
- Romania10
- Bulgaria9
- Nigeria9
New humectants from suppliers
Products recently listed by manufacturers and traders in this category.
Latest buy requests for humectants
Open requests from buyers. Suppliers can quote after signing in.
- 1 quoteDiphenhydramine hydrochloride10 kg+ 1 more products To IndiaMonthly need 7 d ago
- 0 quotesMethimazole10 kg+ 2 more products To India 7 d ago
- 0 quotesSorbitol200 kg+ 1 more products To ThailandQuarterly need 7 d ago
- 0 quotesD-Glucose25 MT To BangladeshMonthly need 7 d ago
- 0 quotesPropylene glycol50 kg+ 3 more products To IndiaQuarterly need 7 d ago
- 0 quotesCopper16 MT To India 7 d ago
Buyer names and contact details stay private until the buyer accepts a quote.
Guides for buyers
Practical reading on grades, documents, regulation and shipping before you buy.
- Article · FormulationHow to choose a cosmetic emulsifier
A structured way to choose an emulsifier for creams and lotions: emulsion type, HLB and its limits, emulsifier families, formula fit, stability testing and what to ask suppliers.
- Article · SourcingHow to write an RFQ that gets fast and accurate quotes
What suppliers need to quote quickly and comparably: exact product identity, quantity and packing, delivery terms, documents, samples and payment, with a ready to use template.
- Guide · Trade and logisticsIncoterms 2020 for chemical buyers
The eleven Incoterms 2020 rules from a chemical buyer's point of view, with the traps around CIF insurance, FOB for containers, EXW exports, DDP imports and dangerous goods.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about buying humectants on CompoundList.
What are humectants?
Water-binding ingredients such as glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, urea and hyaluronic acid.
How many humectants are listed on CompoundList?
CompoundList lists 209 chemicals in humectants. 3,885 suppliers offer products in this category.
Which humectants are the most popular?
The most searched and traded humectants on CompoundList include Copper, D-Glucose, Glycerol, Sodium chloride and Lactic acid. They are part of the wider cosmetic ingredients family.
How do I buy humectants in bulk?
Open a chemical to compare its suppliers, or post one buy request with the product, grade, quantity and destination. Matching suppliers send you quotes, and your contact details stay private until you accept one.