Editing Humectant (section)

{{Short description|Water-absorbing substance used to keep things moist}}

A '''humectant''' {{IPAc-en|h|juː|ˈ|m|ɛ|k|t|ən|t}} is a [[hygroscopic]] (water-absorbing) [[Chemical substance|substance]] used to keep things moist.  They are used in many products, including food, cosmetics, medicines and pesticides. When used as a [[food additive]], a humectant has the effect of keeping moisture in the food.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1bzCYeHoJ8sC&q=humectant+food+additives&pg=PA343|title=The Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Good Health|last=Ronzio|first=Robert A.|date=2003-01-01|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=9780816066308|pages=343|language=en}}</ref> Humectants are sometimes used as a component of [[antistatic]] coatings for [[plastic]]s.

A humectant attracts and retains the moisture in the air nearby via absorption, drawing the water vapor into or beneath the organism's or object's surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/humectant|title=humectant|access-date=17 November 2016|via=The Free Dictionary}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-an-humectant.htm|title=What is an Humectant? (with pictures)|access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> This is the opposite use of a hygroscopic material where it is used as a [[desiccant]] used to draw moisture away.

In pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, humectants can be used in [[topical]] [[dosage form]]s to increase the solubility of a chemical compound's [[active ingredient]]s, increasing the active ingredients' ability to penetrate skin, or its activity time. This hydrating property can also be needed to counteract a dehydrating active ingredient (e.g., [[soap]]s, [[corticoid]]s, and some [[Alcohol (chemistry)|alcohol]]s), which is why humectants are common ingredients in a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products that make moisturization claims (e.g., [[hair conditioner]]s, [[body lotion]]s, face or body cleansers, [[Lip balm|lip balms]], and eye creams).