Maldotextrin ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as a bulking agent, binder, absorbent, and texture modifier. It can also help carry or disperse actives, pigments, and botanical extracts in powders, creams, and masks.
What does Maldotextrin do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as a bulking agent, binder, absorbent, and texture modifier. It can also help carry or disperse actives, pigments, and botanical extracts in powders, creams, and masks.
Is Maldotextrin clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well-tolerated, low on irritation concerns, and not a common restricted-list issue. Residual proteins are typically minimal after processing, but source transparency can matter for shoppers with corn or gluten sensitivities.
Is Maldotextrin sustainable?
This material is usually made from plant starch feedstocks such as corn, potato, rice, or tapioca. It is readily biodegradable and has low environmental persistence, with the main sustainability questions tied to agricultural sourcing and crop practices.
Is Maldotextrin COSMOS-approved?
It is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic frameworks when produced from accepted plant sources and approved processing methods. It fits Green Chemistry principles reasonably well because it is plant-derived, biodegradable, and commonly made through water-based enzymatic processing.
How does Maldotextrin work chemically?
The molecule is a mixture of short glucose-based polysaccharide chains produced by controlled hydrolysis, with properties influenced by chain length and dextrose equivalent. It is water-soluble, stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges, and often used at low single-digit percentages for binding or texture, though higher levels can appear in dry powders and masks.
Last updated 2026-05-14