Humectant
[hyoo-MEK-tnt]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, 19th century
1.
A substance, especially a skin lotion or a food additive, used to reduce the loss of moisture.
Examples of Humectant in a sentence
"Wyatt’s tangled mane requires a heavy humectant."
"Shea butter is the main humectant in this lotion."
About Humectant
This word stems from the Latin verb “humectare.” This comes from “humectus,” meaning “moist, wet,” and from “humēre,” which means “to be moist.”
Did you Know?
Humectants are used in a wide range of products — everything from food and cosmetics to pesticides and pharmaceuticals. They can help food retain moisture and are sometimes used as a component of antistatic coatings for plastics. Humectants can also be used to counteract a dehydrating ingredient, such as soaps or alcohols, which is why hair conditioners, lip balms, eye creams, and skin cleansers tend to boast their ability to moisturize.
