HYDROXYETHYL UREA

📋 Quick facts

Description: HYDROXYETHYL UREA — hydration, gentle urea derivative with less irritation potential than plain urea.

All Functions: hydration, gentle urea derivative with less irritation potential than plain urea

Quick Facts:

• Category: humectant

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Hydroxyethyl urea is a humectant and conditioning agent approved as safe for cosmetics at current use levels
• It’s used in skincare products to help skin retain moisture and improve texture
• The ingredient was deemed safe when formulated to be non-irritating
• It appears in body care products designed to address rough, bumpy skin texture

⚗️ Chemical Overview

The Panel concluded that Hydroxyethyl Urea is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when formulated to be non-irritating.

Source(s): Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Hydroxyethyl urea is a synthetic compound that functions primarily as a humectant—meaning it draws water into the skin and helps it stay hydrated—and secondarily as a conditioning agent for both hair and skin (Int J Toxicol, 2024). A cosmetic safety panel reviewed available data and concluded that #1: the ingredient is safe for use in cosmetics at the concentrations and practices currently employed, provided the final product formulation is non-irritating (Int J Toxicol, 2024). This is an important distinction: the ingredient itself passed safety review, but the overall product it’s in must still be formulated carefully to avoid irritation. In one clinical study of a body care product containing hydroxyethyl urea alongside other ingredients like allantoin and plant oils, the formulation was tested on people with keratosis pilaris (a common condition causing rough, bumpy skin texture).

The study measured skin hydration using specialized equipment and found improvements in skin smoothness and texture, though it’s important to note the product contained multiple active ingredients, so benefits cannot be attributed to hydroxyethyl urea alone (Cureus, 2025). The research available is limited; we have ingredient-level safety data and one product study, but not dedicated efficacy studies isolating hydroxyethyl urea’s individual performance.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Akinsulie A et al. (2024). Safety Assessment of Hydroxyethyl Urea as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol.
• Patel MN et al. (2025). Synergistic Effects of the ThriveCo Bumps Eraser Kit: Exfoliating Scrub and Lotion in Reducing Skin Bumps and Enhancing Hydration With Spirulina, Alpha-Hydroxy Acid, Madhuca indica Oil, Allantoin, and Hydroxyethyl Urea. Cureus.

🧴 Products Containing HYDROXYETHYL UREA

• luckylily MASCARILLA SOS HIDRANTE E ILUMINADIRA
• Ma Chérie Moisture Conditioner
• Bagovit Emulsión hidratante revitalizante, efecto luminoso
• Novex Creme de Tratamento Novex Óleo de Argan 400g
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, Garnier, Garnier SkinActive Juicy Mask Radiance / Éclat
• Schaebens Feuchtigkeits Maske
• Instituto español Crema regenadora
• Instituto Español Aloe Vera, body cream / Crema corporal
• Instituto Español Loción corporal Arnica Piernas Cansadas
• L’Oréal,L’Oreal Consumer products,L’Oréal Paris,Accord Parfait Accord Parfait fond de teint unifiant sur-mesure Lin
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 1.R/1.C Rose Ivory Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oréal Paris True Match 3.R/3.C Rose Beige Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 5.R/5.C Rose Sand Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 3.D/3.W Golden Beige Foundation
• MAC Studio Radiance 24HR Luminous Lift Concealer NC11
• LOOPS Dark Spot Mask
• Love Beauty and Planet Love Beauty And Planet Masque tissu Infusion Hydratante x1
• Love Beauty and Planet LBP Mask Rapid Reset Tea & Veti 1pc 40x
• Three sisters cafe GOLD BOND ULTIMATE healing hand cream Net wt 3 oz (85 9)
• Jergens Shea Butter
• Clinique Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator 75 ml
• coconut
• Bath & Body Works, White Barn White Tea & Sage Gentle Foaming Hand Soap with Essential Oils
• bath and body works iced cinnamon rolls hand soap
• Bath & Body Works Lemon Poppyseed Gentle Foaming Hand Soap with Natural Essential Oils
• coconut mint drop bath and body
• Equate Advanced Recovery Skin Care Lotion
• Cremo Face Moisturizer
• Nuxe Nuxe Men Offre Découverte Douche Rasage Multifonctions
• CeraVe Hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Professional products, L’Oréal Paris, L’Oréal Professionnel Volumetry Shampoo
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 3.N Creamy Beige Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 5.N Sand Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L Oréal Paris True Match 5.D/5.W Golden Sand Foundation
• L’OREAL NORGE AS L’Oréal Paris True Match 7.D/W Golden Amber Foundation
• CeraVe Hyrdrating Cream To Foam Cleanser
• gold bond ultimate
• gold bond radiance renewal
• gold bond ultimate diabetics dry skin relief
• sanitizer