Skincare ingredients for dry, dehydrated skin
Our research data links 28 ingredients to dry, dehydrated skin. Strongest evidence comes first, each with the studies behind it.
A research list, not medical advice. If a skin condition worries you, see a dermatologist.
Which ingredients have the most evidence for dry, dehydrated skin?
In our data, the strongest evidence for dry, dehydrated skin is behind Urea, Glycerol, and White Petrolatum.
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| Ingredient | Evidence | Studied at | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urea | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 10%, 20%; combination moisturizer 2% | Low concern |
| Glycerol | 📄 Literature evidence | combination clinical 20%; general stand-alone range N/A | Low concern |
| White Petrolatum | 📄 Literature evidence | pure base tested; universal range N/A | Low concern |
| Dexpanthenol | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 5% | Low concern |
| Hyaluronan 130 kDa | 🧪 Clinical evidence | clinical 0.1% | Low concern |
- UreaLow concern
Studied at clinical 10%, 20%; combination moisturizer 2%
- Reference: Grether-Beck et al., 2012
- Reference: Danby et al., 2022
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 500 products
- GlycerolLow concern
Glycerin
Studied at combination clinical 20%; general stand-alone range N/A
- Reference: Danby et al., 2022
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 21,696 products
- White PetrolatumLow concern
Petrolatum
Studied at pure base tested; universal range N/A
Moisturizing mainly through suppressing evaporative loss. The mechanism differs from water-binding agents.
- Reference: Ghadially et al., 1992
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 264 products
- DexpanthenolLow concern
Studied at clinical 5%
- Reference: Proksch and Nissen, 2002
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 51 products
- Hyaluronan 130 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
Hydration improved in a 0.1% controlled study at the stated MW. There is no established ranking of moisturizing superiority among the five MWs, so they are tied.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- Hyaluronan 2000 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
Hydration improved in a 0.1% controlled study at the stated MW. There is no established ranking of moisturizing superiority among the five MWs, so they are tied.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- Hyaluronan 300 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
Hydration improved in a 0.1% controlled study at the stated MW. There is no established ranking of moisturizing superiority among the five MWs, so they are tied.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- Hyaluronan 50 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
Hydration improved in a 0.1% controlled study at the stated MW. There is no established ranking of moisturizing superiority among the five MWs, so they are tied.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- Hyaluronan 800 kDaLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.1%
Hydration improved in a 0.1% controlled study at the stated MW. There is no established ranking of moisturizing superiority among the five MWs, so they are tied.
- Reference: Pavicic et al., 2011
Not in our product list yet
- EctoineLow concern
Ectoin
Studied at clinical 7% cream
Supplementary moisturizing and barrier assessment based on a 7% atopy study of a combination vehicle formulation.
- Reference: Marini et al., 2014
- Reference: Bitop AG, 2010
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 596 products
- Sodium Acetylated HyaluronateLow concern
Studied at clinical 0.2% for 6 hours; 0.1% for 1-2 months
- Reference: Meunier et al., 2022
- Reference: CIR, 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 2,228 products
- Oxidized Glutathione (GSSG)Low concern
Oxidized Glutathione
Studied at clinical 2% w/w
- Reference: Watanabe et al., 2014
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1 product
- Sodium HyaluronateLow concern
Studied at N/A; raw material with unstated molecular weight
- Reference: CIR, 2023
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 11,933 products
- Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: CIR, 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 2,417 products
- Dimethicone (polydimethylsiloxane)Low concern
Dimethicone
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Hoggarth et al., 2005
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 5,823 products
- Hydrolyzed Sodium HyaluronateLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: CIR, 2023
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 4,450 products
- PanthenolLow concern
Studied at N/A; kept apart from the D-form 5% study
- Reference: Gehring and Gloor, 2000
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 8,534 products
- OligohyaluronanLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: CIR, 2023
Not in our product list yet
- XylitolLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Korponyai et al., 2017
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,205 products
- β-(1→3)/(1→6)-D-GlucanLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Du et al., 2014
- Reference: Majtan and Jesenak, 2018
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- β-(1→3)/(1→4)-D-GlucanLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Kurtz and Wallo, 2007
- Reference: Du et al., 2014
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- BetaineLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Maresca et al., 2025
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 4,874 products
- HydroxyectoineLow concern
Hydroxyectoin
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Maresca et al., 2025
- Reference: Czech et al., 2018
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 10 products
- Sodium lactateLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Marty, 2002
- Reference: Kang et al., 2022
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 597 products
- Sodium PCALow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Clar and Fourtanier, 1981
- Reference: Marty, 2002
- Reference: Kang et al., 2022
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 987 products
- SorbitolLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Muizzuddin et al., 2013
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 1,018 products
- SqualaneLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Kim and Karadeniz, 2012
- Reference: Sethi et al., 2016
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 3,842 products
- TrehaloseLow concern
Studied at N/A
- Reference: Maresca et al., 2025
- Reference: Ohtake and Wang, 2011
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 2,476 products
Which ingredients for dry, dehydrated skin are advised against in pregnancy?
None of the 28 ingredients here carries an 'advised to avoid' verdict for pregnancy in our data.
Pregnant or breastfeeding? Check new products with your doctor or midwife.
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