What it is
Mannose is a naturally occurring six-carbon sugar closely related to glucose and a building block of many polysaccharides. In skincare it acts as a humectant that helps attract and hold water in the skin and contributes to a conditioned feel. It has no UV-filtering function.
Safety & warnings
Generally well tolerated as a simple sugar humectant, with no notable irritation or comedogenicity concerns at cosmetic use levels.
Origin & sourcing
Natural sugar that occurs widely in plants and in human glycoproteins; the cosmetic ingredient is typically produced by manufacturing or extraction.
Questions everyone asks
What does mannose do in skincare?
It acts as a humectant, helping to draw in and retain moisture, and conditions the skin.
Is mannose related to glucose?
Yes. Mannose is a simple sugar that is a stereoisomer of glucose and shares many of its basic properties.