What Is Maltitol?
Maltitol is a sugar alcohol derived from starches such as corn or wheat, chemically known as 4-O-.alpha.-D-Glucopyranosyl-D-glucitol. It looks and tastes like sugar but carries fewer calories, which first made it popular in the food industry. Its mild sweetness, stability and skin friendly profile soon caught the attention of cosmetic chemists. Industrially, maltitol is produced by hydrogenating maltose that has been obtained from starch hydrolysis. The finished ingredient appears as a clear syrup or crystalline powder that dissolves easily in water, making it simple to add to creams, gels or lotions.
Maltitol began appearing in personal care formulas in the late 1990s when brands searched for gentle humectants that could rival glycerin without a sticky feel. Today you can spot it in moisturizers, sheet masks, soothing serums, after-sun gels, hand creams and even some fragrant body mists. Its multitasking nature lets it replace several separate additives, streamlining modern clean beauty formulations.
Maltitol’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
Below is how maltitol helps a wide range of skin care products perform and feel better.
- Fragrance – carries a faint sweet scent that softens the overall aroma of a formula and can round out sharper notes without needing extra perfume
- Humectant – draws water from the environment into the upper layers of skin keeping it comfortably hydrated throughout the day
- Moisturising – forms a light veil that slows down water loss so skin stays smooth and supple while avoiding a greasy residue
- Skin Conditioning – leaves the surface feeling soft and conditioned which improves spreadability and gives products a pleasant glide during application
Who Can Use Maltitol
Maltitol is considered friendly for nearly every skin type including dry, normal, combination, oily and sensitive because it hydrates without clogging pores or leaving a heavy film. Its mild nature means it rarely causes redness or stinging even on reactive skin.
The ingredient is produced from plant starches with no animal by-products, so it fits vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. Most suppliers also avoid animal testing to meet modern cruelty free standards.
Topical use is viewed as low risk for pregnant or breastfeeding women thanks to minimal skin penetration and a long history of safe use in food and personal care. This is not medical advice and anyone who is expecting or nursing should still clear new products with a healthcare professional first.
Maltitol does not make skin more sensitive to sunlight and can be used day or night without increasing the need for extra sun protection.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Responses to any cosmetic ingredient differ from person to person. Below are potential side effects that could occur with topical maltitol though most users will not notice any problems when the product is formulated and used correctly.
- Mild irritation slight redness or tingling on very compromised or freshly exfoliated skin
- Contact allergy rare cases of itchiness or small rash in individuals sensitive to sugar alcohols
- Sticky feel tackiness if the finished product contains an unusually high dose of maltitol
If you notice discomfort or a visible reaction stop use immediately and seek advice from a medical professional or dermatologist.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 0/5. Maltitol is a water soluble sugar alcohol that does not mix with skin oil or create heavy films, so it has virtually no tendency to block pores.
This makes it a friendly option for people who are prone to acne or frequent breakouts.
The only caveat is that very high percentages can feel tacky for a short time, which might bother those with very oily skin even though it will not clog pores.
Summary
Maltitol acts as a humectant, moisturiser, mild fragrance note and overall skin conditioning agent. It draws moisture into the upper layers of skin, slows water loss with a light veil and gently rounds out a product’s aroma without extra perfume.
Although glycerin still dominates hydrating formulas maltitol is quietly gaining fans among brands that want a plant based alternative with a less sticky feel. You will mostly notice it in hydrating gels, sheet masks, after-sun products and hand creams yet its presence is still niche compared with long-standing staples.
Topical use enjoys a strong safety record and adverse reactions are rare, but every skin is unique so it is wise to patch test any new product before regular use.