Ingredient glossary / Humectant
Hydrolyzed collagen
On the label: Hydrolyzed Collagen · Humectant
What it is
Collagen broken into small peptides. On skin it acts as a humectant and film former; it does not become collagen in the skin. Animal or fish derived unless labelled vegan (which is then a different molecule).
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. Q72461264 →
In the research
98 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Transglutaminase-Crosslinked Collagen Gel Delays Gastrointestinal Transit and Prolongs Serum Appearance of Antioxidant Collagen Di- and Tripeptides in Mice · Nutrients, 2026
- Skin-Like Coating Stabilizes the In Situ Forming Lithium Anode for High-Energy-Density Batteries · ACS applied materials & interfaces, 2026
- Hexagram prism structure composed of hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed collagen as a dissolvable physical micro-disruption platform for topical delivery of hydrophilic cargos · International journal of biological macromolecules, 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.
Other humectants
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