Hydroxyethyl Urea

(in 3,028 products)

1. Film-Forming Agent - Leaves a coating on the surface of skin/hair

2. Humectant - Binds with water to increase skin hydration. Also enhances water absorption of the skin

3. Surfactant - Reduces the surface tension to allow mixtures to be formed evenly. Emulsifier is a specific type of surfactant which allows two liquids to mix together evenly

Hydroxyethyl urea is a colorless and odorless. It is a derivative of Urea, which works as a strong moisturizer and humectant helping the skin to cling onto water and thus to make it hydrated and elastic. It is a synthetic version of urea designed to improve its efficacy.

Compared to glycerin, hydroxyethyl urea was found deliver comparable moisturi­zation efficacy while offering some advantages in terms of sensory perception in skin care products. Therefore, hydroxyethyl urea is believed to be an alternative ingredient of glycerin. [2]

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/73984

2. Peter Landa, Fiona Lam, Irina Morosov, Rita Rothman and Doreen Howard and Anja Gestmann, National Starch Personal Care, Glycerin and Hydroxyethyl Urea: Comparing Two Skin Moisturizers, 2009

1. US FDA Food Additives Status List [2018]

- Indirect Additives used in Food Contact Substances

- §175.105