Hydroxyethyl Cyclodextrin
AKA “hydroxyethyl--cyclodextrin”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Hydroxyethyl cyclodextrin
AKA: Hydroxyethyl--cyclodextrin
Synthetic · Humectant · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Humectant
Solvent
Skin Conditioner
Synthetic
Clean
A skin-conditioning agent that helps lock in moisture and improve texture, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.
Formula
C38H64O31
Mol. Weight
1016.90
CAS #
-
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Humectant
A moisture magnet. Pulls water from the air and deeper skin layers up to the surface to keep skin plump and hydrated.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A modified cyclodextrin (a sugar-based molecule) developed in the 1980s for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use as a solubilizing and stabilizing agent. Created to improve the delivery and stability of active ingredients in modern formulations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
Dermal absorption: 2%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 680).
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR