Ingredient glossary / Humectant
Xylitol
On the label: Xylitol · Humectant
What it is
A sugar alcohol from birch or corn, used in toothpaste and lip products; a humectant. Toxic to dogs in the amounts in food, so lip balms with it stay out of reach.
Humectants: Humectants draw water into the outer layer of skin from the air and the layers below; glycerin is the classic one.
Wikidata: A sugar alcohol (polyol) derived from xylose by reduction of the carbonyl group. Q212093 →
In the research
61 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Safety assessment of xylitol used in cosmetic products · Toxicological research, 2026
- A trolamine-enabled shape-morphing poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel with adaptive adhesion and therapeutic function for burn wound healing · Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2026
- Effects of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners on acne vulgaris: A systematic review · Fitoterapia, 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
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.