Pentaerythritol is a polyhydric alcohol (tetrol) with four hydroxyl (-OH) groups per molecule. This high hydroxyl density gives it excellent humectant properties — it attracts and binds water to the skin. It is also used as a building block for pentaerythrityl esters (emollients and thickeners) and alkyd resins. In direct cosmetic use, it functions as a moisturizer and emulsion stabilizer.
Key Skin Benefits
+ Humectant — attracts and retains moisture in the skin
+ Emulsion stabilization — hydroxyl groups help stabilize O/W emulsions
+ Non-sticky moisturizing — lighter feel than glycerin at equal levels
+ Versatile building block — precursor to many cosmetic esters
Pros
+ Effective humectant with good water-binding capacity
+ Generally well-tolerated — low irritation potential
+ Non-comedogenic
+ Multifunctional — humectant + stabilizer in one ingredient
Cons
− Synthetic — not suitable for 100% natural formulations
− Less common than glycerin as standalone humectant
− Hygroscopic — may attract moisture from packaging if not sealed
Specifications
Property
Value
Usage Areas
Face, Eye, Body, Hair
Product Type
Leave-On, Rinse-Off
Source
Synthetic
Natural Level
Synthetic
Safety Ratings
Metric
Rating
Skin Sensitivity
1/5
Comedogenic Rating
0/5
EWG Score
1/10
Regional Regulatory Limits
Region
Leave-on %
Rinse-off %
Status
EU (CosIng)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
US (CIR/FDA)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
Japan (MHLW)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
ASEAN
No limit
No limit
Allowed
China (NMPA)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
Typical Usage % by Product Type
Product Type
Typical %
Moisturizer / Cream
0.5 - 3%
Serum
0.5 - 2%
Body lotion
1 - 5%
References
CIR (2019) — Safety Assessment of Pentaerythrityl Compounds. cir-safety.org