Trehalose
Trehalose is a cosmetic ingredient used as a humectant, moisturising agent. It appears in about 3% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 294 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | TREHALOSE |
| Function | HUMECTANT, MOISTURISING |
| CAS number | 99-20-7 |
| EC number | 202-739-6 |
| Prevalence | 2,412 products (2.6% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 294 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 5,400 |
Used in
Serums 16.5%General Moisturizers 15.9%Toners 11.8%Sheet Masks 9.6%Face Cleansers 5.6%Facial Treatments 3.5%
Frequently asked
- What does Trehalose do in skincare?
- Trehalose functions as a humectant, moisturising agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Trehalose allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Trehalose?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (16.5% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Trehalose
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.