Snapshot
- Overview
- Fruit sugar that helps skin attract and hold onto moisture.
- Category
- Hydration, Skin Conditioning
- Type
- Humectant
Fructose
Fructose is a monosaccharide sugar occurring naturally in fruits and plant syrups. In formulations it works as a humectant that draws moisture into the stratum corneum and improves spreadability without adding oiliness.
Like this ingredient?
Our take
Is Fructose a Good Ingredient?
It's Good because it's a well-established humectant that reliably boosts surface hydration with a low likelihood of irritation. It stays at Good rather than Great since the benefit is essentially moisturization alone, with limited evidence for anything beyond that in leave-on products.
What it does
Skin Benefits
Helps keep skin feeling comfortably hydrated and reduces the sensation of dryness-related tightness. Contributes to a dewy finish without heaviness.
Where you'll find it
Uses in Skincare & Cosmetics
Common in lotions, toners, and sheet masks as a lightweight humectant for water-based formulas.
Before you use it
Safety
Generally safe and non-sensitizing at cosmetic concentrations. Can feel tacky at higher levels but irritation is uncommon.
Products with Fructose
