Dextran
AKA: Polydextrose
Synthetic
Not Clean
Dextran
Effective at 2.5%
CAS #
9004-54-0
Form
Powder
Functions
Binding
Viscosity Controlling
Anti-Inflammatory
Boosts Collagen
Antimicrobial
Holds ingredients together
Controls product thickness
Traditional Use
A polysaccharide produced through bacterial fermentation, discovered in the 20th century. Used in cosmetics since the 1960s as a humectant and thickening agent, originally developed for medical applications.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
5e-06%
5.0%
0%100%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.00001-5 | 0.000005-0.2
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR