GLUCURONIC ACID
Glucuronic acid is an organic acid structurally related to glucose. In chemistry and biology, the D form is also called D-glucuronic acid; it takes part in the formation of glucuronides, which are compounds distinct from the free acid. GLUCURONIC ACID is therefore not another name for glucose or hyaluronic acid, even though those names can look similar on an ingredient list.
GLUCURONIC ACID: what it is
Glucuronic acid is an organic acid structurally related to glucose. In chemistry and biology, the D form is also called D-glucuronic acid; it takes part in the formation of glucuronides, which are compounds distinct from the free acid. GLUCURONIC ACID is therefore not another name for glucose or hyaluronic acid, even though those names can look similar on an ingredient list.
The substance occurs in organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, but its name on an ingredient list does not identify the raw material used in a particular product. What sets it apart is its carboxylic-acid group within a glucose-like structure, a feature relevant to its use as a component of cosmetic preparations.
GLUCURONIC ACID: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, glucuronic acid can work as a humectant. In practical terms, it helps a preparation retain water and may contribute to a less dry feel while the product is being applied. The result a person notices depends on the amount used and on the rest of the ingredients, especially those that make up the product base.
It can also help adjust pH and bind trace metal ions. In practice, these actions help keep the preparation's environment more stable. Those functions do not make glucuronic acid a treatment for dark spots, wrinkles, acne, or disease: they describe the ingredient's technical and cosmetic uses within a product.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
