Ingredient glossary / Humectant
Hyaluronic acid
On the label: Hyaluronic Acid · Humectant
What it is
A large sugar molecule found naturally in skin and joints, used in skin care to hold water at the surface. On a label it often appears as its salt, sodium hyaluronate.
Humectants: Humectants draw water into the outer layer of skin from the air and the layers below; glycerin is the classic one.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q27078001 →
In the research
5,679 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- PVA and HPMC E4M-based patches for periorbital hyperpigmentation containing açaí oil, barbatimão extract and hyaluronic acid: Preliminary evaluation of skin hydration · In vitro models, 2026
- HIFU-Enhanced Transdermal Delivery of Hyaluronic-Acid-Functionalized Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Localized Melanoma Therapy · ACS applied materials & interfaces, 2026
- Poly-d,l-lactic Acid for Hip Tightening · Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
10 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
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Made in the USAOther humectants
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.