Humectants, Explained: How They Work In Skin Care + 8 Natural Options To Try

So let's start with the first category, shall we? Below, find everything you need to know about humectants, including how they work, how to use them, and the best options to slather on. 

Humectants pull water into the skin. You might hear "water-loving" or "hydrophilic" tossed around when discussing this ingredient category, and that's because humectants actually bond to water—and this bond allows the ingredients to travel with water as it gets absorbed into the skin cells. On that note: Humectants aren't one ingredient but a class of many water-loving players, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and a few other noteworthy hydrators we'll get into later. 

"The magnet forces are attracted to water pulling in or out of the dermis," explains Shamban, so you want to make sure this water magnet is drawing in moisture from the surrounding environment, not from your own skin. 

That said, follow these steps:

Now, many skin care products are actually formulated with a combination of humectants, emollients, and occlusives to reap the benefits of each ingredient category. But if you're putting a raw ingredient on your skin (i.e., a stand-alone hyaluronic acid serum), it's important to mind these application tips above. 

If a product is marketed as "hydrating" or "moisturizing," there's a pretty good chance it's chock-full of humectants. They're included in a variety of formulas—cleansers, serums, creams, lotions, masks, even shampoos and conditioners—but those leave-on hydrating products (serums, creams, lotions) are where humectants really shine. 

Some are famous, others are less-obvious—all are worthy additions to your skin care routine:  

Find our favorite HA serums here. 

Read all about glycerin and our favorite products here.

Plus, it makes a winning face mask: Read up on all the benefits of this all-natural humectant, then check out these DIY hydrating face masks.  

We can go on and on about the skin-supporting benefits of honey (in fact, we already have!). To summarize: In addition to its humectant properties, honey helps ease inflammation, combat breakouts, and promotes healthy wound healing. It's especially divine as a single-ingredient face mask (just slather on the golden goop for 20 minutes or so), or you can pair it with some of these ingredients to target specific skin concerns. 

This oft-overlooked ingredient is actually A+ for soothing the skin: It's structurally similar to vitamin B5 (you might see it listed as provitamin B5 on labels), and according to board-certified dermatologist Jessie Cheung, M.D., panthenol is "a liquid at room temperature, so it's used as a humectant and emollient in skin care products." Animal studies have even found that it increases the mobility of lipids and proteins3 in the stratum corneum, resulting in improved hydration.

AHAs in general are hydrophilic, meaning they're water-loving, and in addition to increasing skin cell turnover and reducing the appearance of fine lines, they have also been shown to improve moisture content in the skin4. "They can be simultaneously exfoliating and hydrating, making them very beneficial to many skin types," says board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D.  

Oats are a known humectant, thanks to their polysaccharides (long sugars) that bind water to the skin's surface. However, the lipids in colloidal oats also have emollient properties (meaning, it has the ability to sit in between skin cells and fill in any micro-cracks, softening irritated skin). With these two moisturizing properties working in tandem, colloidal oats become quite the superfood for skin care. Some people even swear by oatmeal baths to tame irritation and plump the skin with hydration.

This all-natural moisturizer has been used for ages for a very good reason: Cucumbers are immensely hydrating. In fact, the vegetable is 95% water and has anti-inflammatory properties thanks to the antioxidants5 (so say hello to happy, soothed skin). You can DIY a cucumber mask at home by pureeing a cucumber and slathering it on for a few minutes. Just make sure to use a cream or oil afterward to seal in the moisture. 

Humectants are water-loving ingredients that plump your skin with hydration—but use them incorrectly, and these water magnets can backfire pretty quickly. No fear: These derm-backed tips and recommendations will have your skin practically bursting with moisture.