Urea (Cosmetic/USP Grade)

Urea (USP Grade)

Skin-identical humectant that enhances hydration, softness, and barrier function

INCI Name: Urea

Appearance: White crystalline powder

Solubility: Water-soluble

Recommended Usage: 1–10%

Function: Humectant, skin softener, barrier support, mild keratolytic

Urea is a naturally occurring component of the skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) and one of the most effective cosmetic ingredients for restoring hydration, improving texture, and softening rough or compromised skin. Its dual hydrating and skin-conditioning action makes it indispensable in both daily moisturizers and targeted repair formulas.

What It Does

Urea delivers a rare combination of intense hydration and gentle surface renewal. At cosmetic concentrations, it increases water retention within the stratum corneum while loosening compacted, dry skin cells. This improves comfort, smoothness, and skin resilience without aggressive exfoliation.

Key Benefits

• Deeply hydrates by binding water within the skin
• Strengthens barrier function and reduces moisture loss
• Softens rough, flaky, or thickened skin
• Supports smoother texture through mild keratolytic action
• Well tolerated by dry, sensitive, and compromised skin

Suggested Use Level

• 1–5% for daily moisturizers and sensitive-skin products
• 5–10% for intensive repair, hand, foot, and body care

Formulation Guidelines

• Dissolve fully in the water phase at 40–50 °C
• Avoid prolonged heating above 60 °C
• Compatible with ceramides, panthenol, lactic acid, and occlusive systems
• Ideal for barrier-repair and dermatologically oriented formulations

Documents

• Certificate of Analysis (COA)
• Safety Data Sheet (SDS)