Dextran

Dextran Description

Dextran is a polysaccharide (sugar) that has water-binding properties for skin, meaning it’s an excellent ingredient for maintaining hydration. It is often combined with peptides in powder form to improve stability and compatibility with different types of skin care formulas.

It can also be used to create a skin care product’s hydrogel structure. Hydrogels are absorbent structures that don’t dissolve in water and are often used in medical settings for wound healing.

The French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur first discovered dextran in the 1860s as a byproduct of wine fermentation. The dextran used today in skin care is produced from the sugar sucrose by lactic acid bacteria. Dextran has been ruled safe as used in cosmetics and has “GRAS” (Generally Recognized as Safe” status when used as a food additive.