What it is
Isomalt is a sugar alcohol produced from sucrose and best known as a food sweetener, but in cosmetics it functions as a humectant that helps attract and hold moisture. It can contribute to a smooth, hydrated skin feel and to the overall conditioning of a formula. In sunscreens it is a supporting moisturizing ingredient and plays no role in UV filtering.
Safety & warnings
Isomalt is a well-characterized sugar alcohol with a long history of food use and is considered gentle and non-sensitizing on skin at cosmetic levels.
Origin & sourcing
Derived from sucrose (beet or cane sugar) through enzymatic conversion and hydrogenation.
Questions everyone asks
What does isomalt do in skin care?
It acts as a humectant, helping draw and hold water to support a hydrated, smooth skin feel.
Is it the same isomalt used in food?
It is the same sugar alcohol used as a food sweetener, here used for its moisture-binding properties in cosmetics.