Tag: Humectant

According to Nature Valley's own ingredient lists, some of its popular products, such as certain protein and sweet & salty bars, do contain vegetable glycerin. This ingredient serves several key purposes in the manufacturing of snack bars, including moisture retention and texture enhancement.

Sorbitol, a sugar alcohol, is found naturally in fruits like apples and pears and is also commercially produced from glucose. With approximately 60% of the sweetness and fewer calories than sugar, sorbitol is widely utilized across various industries for its multifaceted properties.

Potassium lactate, officially recognized as the food additive E326 in Europe, is a versatile and safe ingredient widely used across multiple industries. This potassium salt of lactic acid functions primarily as an effective preservative, humectant, and pH stabilizer.

According to 2019 FDA data, glycerin is the third most frequently used ingredient in cosmetics, featured in thousands of products. This versatile sugar alcohol is used extensively across multiple industries, so knowing what has a lot of glycerin in it can help inform consumer choices and highlight its ubiquitous nature.

Did you know that sugar has been used as a food preservative for centuries? While most people associate it only with sweetness, the functions of sugar extend far beyond taste, playing crucial roles in the texture, appearance, and shelf-life of countless foods.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has certified glycerin as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) for human intake. So, is glycerin ok for you? For most people, it is, but understanding its uses and potential risks is key to safe consumption and application.

According to dermatological research, panthenol is not exactly Vitamin B5 but is an alcohol precursor that the body efficiently converts into the active form of the vitamin, known as pantothenic acid. This critical conversion is what gives panthenol its famous hydrating, soothing, and repairing properties for both skin and hair.

Glycerin can be derived from animal fats, but it can also be made from plant-based oils like soy, coconut, and palm. This dual origin means that determining if glycerin fatty acid is vegan requires careful investigation of its source.

Propylene glycol (E1520) has an exceptionally low toxicity, especially compared to the related, highly poisonous ethylene glycol. The primary function of propylene glycol E1520 is to act as a multipurpose chemical in various industries, serving roles as a humectant, solvent, stabilizer, and emulsifier in products from food to cosmetics.

Despite common misconceptions, glycerin is not a fatty alcohol; it is a polyol, or sugar alcohol. While both are used in skincare, they have fundamentally different chemical structures and functions, which is crucial for consumers to understand. This distinction helps in appreciating why each ingredient is chosen for specific roles in cosmetic formulations.