Glucanolactone ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a gentle exfoliating acid and humectant, used to smooth skin texture while helping bind water in the stratum corneum. It can also support mild chelation and formula preservation systems.
What does Glucanolactone do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a gentle exfoliating acid and humectant, used to smooth skin texture while helping bind water in the stratum corneum. It can also support mild chelation and formula preservation systems.
Is Glucanolactone clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well-tolerated and has low irritation potential compared with smaller exfoliating acids. It has no major restricted-list friction, though low-pH formulas can still tingle on reactive skin.
Is Glucanolactone sustainable?
This material is commonly made from glucose through fermentation or controlled oxidation, often from plant-derived carbohydrate feedstocks. It is readily biodegradable and does not raise persistence or bioaccumulation concerns in typical personal care use.
Is Glucanolactone COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic frameworks when made through accepted raw-material and processing routes. Its renewable sugar-based origin, biodegradability, and water-compatible chemistry align well with Green Chemistry principles.
How does Glucanolactone work chemically?
The molecule is a cyclic ester of a six-carbon sugar acid, and in water it slowly opens to the corresponding free acid, giving gradual acidity and a milder sensory profile. Typical use ranges run from about 0.5 to 2% for humectancy or support functions and roughly 3 to 10% in exfoliating products, with performance shaped by final formula pH, often around 3.5 to 5.5.
Last updated 2026-05-15