Mannitol

Mannitol is a cosmetic ingredient used as a binding, humectant agent. It appears in about 1% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 802 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameMANNITOL
FunctionBINDING, HUMECTANT, FRAGRANCE, MOISTURISING
CAS number69-65-8
EC number200-711-8
Prevalence517 products (0.56% of dataset)
Most used inSkincare
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies802 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches27,100

Used in

Serums 17.6%Face Cleansers 12.8%General Moisturizers 11.6%Makeup Removers 6.6%Exfoliators 5.6%Eye Moisturizers 5%

Frequently asked

What does Mannitol do in skincare?
Mannitol functions as a binding, humectant agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Mannitol allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Mannitol?
It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (17.6% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Mannitol

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.