Ingredient glossary / Emulsifier
Hydrogenated lecithin
On the label: Hydrogenated Lecithin · Emulsifier
What it is
Lecithin made more stable by hydrogenation; the shell of liposomes in many serums.
Emulsifiers: Emulsifiers hold oil and water together so a cream stays a cream.
In the research
17 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Retinol-Loaded Mannosylerythritol Lipid Nanoliposome for Enhanced Human Skin Penetration · Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bio, 2026
- Minimalist, bioinspired and sensorial emulsion based on a Ca(2+) double cone vector system using Design of Experiment (DoE) · International journal of cosmetic science, 2026
- Hydrogenated plant-based lecithins as excipients for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications: A physical-chemical study · European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European F, 2025
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.
Other emulsifiers
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.