Sorbitol Best Humectant Hydration Sorbitol at a glance Type of sugar that attracts and holds moisture to skin Helps stabilize and improve texture of gel formulas Can keep clear formulas from becoming cloudy Naturally sweet taste is sometimes used to flavor lip products Sorbitol description Sorbitol is a type of sugar that can be created synthetically or derived from natural sources. Similar to glycerine, it is a hydrating ingredient (technically a humectant), thickening agent, and slip agent. Its sugar component makes sorbitol an intriguing prebiotic, an ingredient that can “feed” the probiotics that make up a person’s skin microbiome, thus helping it become balanced. Specifically, sorbitol’s breakdown by certain probiotics can create beta-glucan, a skin-calming antioxidant. Related ingredients: Glycerin Fructose Beta-Glucan