What it is
Saccharin is a synthetic, calorie-free sweetening agent many times sweeter than sucrose. In cosmetics it is used at very low levels primarily in products with oral contact, such as lip balms and toothpaste, where it improves taste or masks the flavor of other ingredients. It contributes no skin-care function and is not used for its sweetness on the skin.
Safety & warnings
At the trace levels used in cosmetics, saccharin is a flavoring and masking agent with no notable irritancy or comedogenicity on skin. It is essentially relevant only to taste in oral-contact products such as lip balm. It is not a recognized contact allergen at cosmetic use levels.
Origin & sourcing
Synthetic. It is manufactured industrially and is one of the oldest artificial sweeteners.
History
Saccharin was discovered in the late nineteenth century and became one of the first widely used artificial sweeteners, later finding limited use in oral-contact cosmetics as a flavoring and masking agent.
Questions everyone asks
Why is a sweetener in lip balm?
Saccharin is added in trace amounts to lip and oral-contact products to improve taste or mask the flavor of other ingredients. It plays no role in skin conditioning or sun protection.
Does saccharin affect the skin?
At the trace levels used in cosmetics it has no meaningful skin effect; it is included for taste in products that contact the lips or mouth.