Hydroxyethyl Cyclodextrin
AKA: Hydroxyethyl--cyclodextrin
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Not Clean
Hydroxyethyl Cyclodextrin is the hydroxyethyl ether of Cyclodextrin
Formula
C38H64O31
Mol. Weight
1016.90
CAS #
-
Form
Powder
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A modified cyclodextrin (a sugar-based molecule) developed in the 1980s for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use as a solubilizing and stabilizing agent. Created to improve the delivery and stability of active ingredients in modern formulations.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
Dermal absorption: 2%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 680).
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
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: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR