Lactose
Lactose is a cosmetic ingredient used as a humectant, skin conditioning agent. It is used in 123 products in our dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 566 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | LACTOSE |
| Function | HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING |
| CAS number | 63-42-3 |
| EC number | 200-559-2 |
| Prevalence | 123 products (0.13% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 566 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 27,100 |
Used in
Face Cleansers 20.3%Serums 14.6%Exfoliators 10.6%General Moisturizers 9.8%Body Washes 4.9%Toners 4.1%
Frequently asked
- What does Lactose do in skincare?
- Lactose functions as a humectant, skin conditioning agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Lactose allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Lactose?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially face cleansers (20.3% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Lactose
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.