Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc.

Humectants from Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition

Moisture-Management for Improved Consistency, Feel, and Shelf Life

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The Solution to Personal Care Product Development Challenges

Personal care product developers frequently encounter expensive challenges ensuring chemical stability, pleasing textures, biological efficacy, and extended shelf life of their products. Humectants provide the most reliable solutions, but choosing the correct one is dependent on the product, the process, and the desired outcome.

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition delivers trustworthy humectants that provide freshness, consistent texture at scale, and optimal shelf life for products formulated for skin care, hair care, cosmetics, and more. Best of all, each of our products is tailored specifically to your formulation needs.

What Are Humectants and How Do They Work?

Humectants are an ingredient added to formulations that work to attract and retain water molecules. Controlling water activity (aw) not only prevents microbial spoilage; it also locks in texture, maintaining a product’s consistency to the end of its shelf life. The final result? Skincare serums that stay silky, hair conditioners that remain creamy, and lipsticks that maintain their smooth blendability.

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Factors That Impact the Humectant You Choose

Choosing the appropriate humectant for a beauty or personal care formulation depends on a precise balance of chemical compatibility, production limitations, and the expectations of target consumers.

Target water activity

Selecting the right ingredient begins with identifying your target aw and determining the point at which your product becomes unstable.

Processing temperatures and conditions

Environmental variables such as high emulsification heat and aggressive high-shear mixing can break down delicate ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Desired texture profile at launch vs. end of shelf life

From initial launch to its expiration date, the humectant must maintain key sensory attributes, like a foundation's spreadability, a hair mask's fluffiness, or a serum's slip. It ensures the product does not separate or become tacky.

Regulatory and label requirements

Plant-derived options support "clean beauty" labels, while synthetic alternatives face stricter regulatory limits globally.

Potential interactions with other ingredients

Humectants can clash with thickeners or proteins, causing product separation. Testing compatibility early avoids costly reformulations.

Combining humectants

Achieving optimal performance typically requires more than a single raw material. By pairing a rich, high-potency hydrator like glycerin with a light, non-sticky glycol, you can create an enhanced sensory profile that maximizes skin barrier hydration while minimizing tackiness.

Humectant Portfolio From Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition

AJIDEWⓇ A-100

For personal care and cosmetic products that protect and nourish hair, skin, and more.

AJIDEWⓇ A-100N

Amino acid-derived humectant with superior moisturizing properties for skin and hair.

AJIDEWⓇ N-50

For personal care and cosmetic products that protect and nourish hair, skin, and more.

AJIDEWⓇ NL-50

Mimics the skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), providing hydration and a smooth touch to both skin and hair.

AJIDEWⓇ NL-50N

Delivers the exact same NMF-mimicking hydration as NL-50, but carries COSMOS, Ecocert, and Natrue certifications for natural cosmetics.

AJIDEWⓇ ZN-100

Reduces excess sebum secretion and photo-aging while acting as an anti-dandruff and antimicrobial preservative booster.

AJIDEWⓇ ZN-100N

Controls skin oil and protects collagen while complying with clean-at-retail standards.

AQUADEWⓇ SPA-30B

Forms a non-occlusive film to trap skin moisture while protecting hair from breakage and split ends.

PRODEWⓇ 300

Works to dramatically improve skin water absorption.

PRODEWⓇ 400

Imitates genuine skin NMF composition to enhance long-term moisture absorption and retention.

PRODEWⓇ 500

Strengthens strands, adds shine, and protects hair color.

PRODEWⓇ 600

Paraben-free amino acid blend that delivers deep skin hydration for preservative-free formulations.

PRODEWⓇ 700

Triple-action cosmetic blend that enhances skin barrier health, provides deep hydration, and optimizes makeup pigment coverage and adhesion.

PRODEWⓇ P-DS-12

Acts as a powerful antimicrobial booster to help developers craft clean-label, preservative-free cosmetics.

Applications & Solutions in Specific Markets

  • Skin care: Creams and lotions that offer clinical anti-aging formulas, oil-free products for acne-prone skin, and immediate irritation relief with barrier recovery products.
  • Hair care: Products that deliver frizz control, manage scalp health, and offer elasticity to brittle strands of color-treated hair.
  • Cosmetics: Liquid makeup that doesn’t dry out on skin, matte lipsticks for chapped lips, concealers that do not harden in the package.
  • Eco-conscious: Ensuring solid formulations for concentrated bars, clean product labels, and microbiome support for maintaining healthy skin pH.
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