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Saccharide Isomerate

What Saccharide Isomerate is & what it does

A plant-sugar humectant that binds to skin and provides long-lasting, durable hydration that resists washing off. It helps maintain a smooth, moisturized surface for hours.

What is Saccharide Isomerate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Saccharide Isomerate is a plant-derived sugar complex used as a humectant. It binds to the skin's surface and pulls in water, giving long-lasting hydration that resists being washed or sweated off. In a sunscreen it helps keep the surface smooth and comfortable for hours, which makes the film feel less tight or dry as it sets.

Is Saccharide Isomerate safe?

Yes. It is a mild, well-tolerated humectant derived from plant sugars and is widely used in moisturizers and sunscreens. It works on the surface of the skin to hold water rather than penetrating deeply, and it is suitable for sensitive skin. Reactions are uncommon at the levels used in cosmetics.

Does Saccharide Isomerate clog pores?

Generally no. It is a water-binding humectant rather than a heavy oil or wax, so it is considered non-comedogenic. It is used in small amounts to attract moisture, which makes it an unlikely cause of clogged pores. If a product breaks you out, the richer emollients in the formula are far more likely the reason.

What else is Saccharide Isomerate called?

On the label it appears as its INCI name, Saccharide Isomerate. You may see it marketed under trade names tied to long-lasting moisturization, but the ingredient list will use the INCI form. It is sometimes described simply as a plant-sugar or carbohydrate complex.

Is Saccharide Isomerate vegan and natural?

It is plant-derived, made from carbohydrates that occur in plants, so it is suitable for vegan formulas. It is processed to mimic the sugar complexes naturally found in the skin's surface. That plant origin and skin-identical design are part of why it is valued as a gentle hydrator.

Sunscreens with Saccharide Isomerate

We rate 194 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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