Trehalose is a multifunctional cosmetic ingredient with applications across skin care, body care, hair care and oral care.
Best known for its ability to help protect biological structures against dehydration, trehalose is already used in personal-care formulations as a moisturising agent and humectant. Human studies show that trehalose-containing formulations can increase skin hydration and reduce transepidermal water loss, while laboratory research points to additional effects on the skin barrier and antioxidant defence.[1–3]
Trehalose also has an unusual application in hair care. Research using human hair has demonstrated improved resistance to humidity after heat styling, giving the ingredient potential beyond conventional moisturisation.[4]
For cosmetic formulators, this combination of hydration, anti-dehydration performance, good water solubility and formulation versatility makes trehalose an increasingly interesting ingredient for modern personal-care products.
What Is Trehalose?
Trehalose is a naturally occurring non-reducing disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules.
It occurs naturally in fungi, plants, microorganisms and other organisms, where it is closely associated with the protection of cells and biological structures during dehydration and environmental stress.
This ability to interact with water, proteins and membranes has led to applications well beyond food, including cosmetics, biotechnology and specialist technical formulations.
In personal care, trehalose is principally used as a moisturising and protective ingredient.[1]
For a broader introduction to the ingredient, see What Is Trehalose? →.
Why Use Trehalose in Cosmetics?
Trehalose offers formulators several potentially valuable functions.
It can be used to help:
- increase skin hydration
- reduce moisture loss
- protect against dehydration
- support skin-barrier performance
- improve moisture management in dry environments
- support hair styling under high humidity
- add moisturising performance without substantially increasing viscosity.[1–4]
NAGASE's cosmetic-grade TREHALOSE 100 is intended for skin, body, hair and oral-care products and can be incorporated into formats ranging from toners and serums to creams, conditioners and oral-care formulations.[1]
Skin Hydration: Strong Human Evidence
Moisturisation is currently the strongest cosmetic application for trehalose.
A 2026 human study investigated emulsions containing 1%, 2.5% and 5% trehalose over a four-week period.[2]
The results showed substantial improvements in both hydration and moisture retention.
The formulation containing 2.5% trehalose reduced transepidermal water loss by approximately 33%, compared with around 8% for the placebo formulation.[2]
The 1% trehalose formulation produced the greatest measured increase in skin hydration — approximately 102% after four weeks.[2]
Trehalose-containing formulations outperformed the placebo base, providing direct evidence that trehalose contributed additional moisturising performance.[2]
No erythema, itching, irritation or other adverse skin reactions were reported during the study.[2]
For formulators developing moisturisers, serums, lotions and dry-skin products, this provides useful contemporary human evidence for the inclusion of trehalose.
Helping Skin Retain Moisture
Increasing hydration is only part of effective moisturisation.
Skin also needs to retain that water.
Transepidermal water loss, or TEWL, measures the movement of water from the skin into the surrounding environment.
The reduction in TEWL observed in trehalose-containing formulations indicates that trehalose can contribute not only to immediate hydration, but also to maintaining moisture within the outer layers of the skin.[2]
NAGASE has also reported human testing using a toner containing 3% TREHALOSE 100. In women with dry skin, twice-daily use over 14 days helped maintain the skin's water-holding capacity compared with placebo.[1]
A separate human study examining a combined trehalose-and-ceramide ingredient also reported improvements in skin hydration and TEWL.[6]
Together, these studies support a particularly strong positioning for trehalose in products focused on long-lasting hydration and protection against dryness.
Supporting the Skin Barrier
Modern research suggests that trehalose's cosmetic activity extends beyond straightforward water binding.
A 2025 laboratory study using human keratinocytes and living skin equivalents found that trehalose influenced several proteins associated with epidermal differentiation and barrier integrity, including:
- filaggrin
- loricrin
- keratin 1
- keratin 10.[3]
Trehalose also influenced NRF2 signalling and antioxidant-enzyme activity.[3]
This provides a useful biological explanation for the broader barrier-supporting effects associated with trehalose-containing formulations.
NAGASE has separately reported that TREHALOSE 100 can promote the formation of lamellar structures in experimental models of the intercellular lipids found in the stratum corneum.[1]
For formulators, the resulting proposition is stronger than simple humectancy:
Trehalose can contribute to hydration, moisture retention and the maintenance of skin-barrier function.
Trehalose for Dry and Environmentally Stressed Skin
These properties make trehalose particularly suitable for products developed around dryness and environmental moisture loss.
Potential applications include:
Moisturising Creams and Lotions
Trehalose can complement emollients, occlusives and other humectants within multi-component moisturising systems.
Serums and Essences
Its water solubility makes it suitable for lightweight water-based formulations where hydration is a priority.
Toners and Lightweight Moisturisers
Trehalose can provide moisturising performance without requiring a heavy or highly viscous formulation.
Body Care
Potential applications include body lotions, gels, hand-care products and other formulations intended to reduce dryness.
Products for Dry Environments
Trehalose is particularly relevant to products designed around exposure to:
- air conditioning
- central heating
- low humidity
- cold weather
- travel
- other dehydrating environments.
This creates opportunities across both everyday moisturisation and more targeted environmental-protection formulations.
Trehalose in Hair Care
Trehalose also has an unusually interesting role in hair care.
Researchers at Unilever R&D in the UK investigated human hair switches treated with trehalose, straightened using heated irons and then exposed to high humidity.[4]
Trehalose-treated hair retained its straightened style for longer under humid conditions.[4]
The proposed mechanism involves trehalose forming glass-like structures following heat treatment. These structures help influence moisture uptake and the physical behaviour of the hair fibre as humidity rises.[4]
This creates potential applications in:
- anti-humidity products
- heat-styling products
- leave-in treatments
- smoothing products
- conditioners
- straightening formulations
- styling products designed for humid environments.
For hair-care formulators, this is particularly interesting because trehalose offers functionality beyond simply adding moisture.
It can potentially combine moisture management with improved styling performance.
Hydration Without Heavy Texture
One of the practical formulation advantages of TREHALOSE 100 is its combination of high water solubility and relatively low solution viscosity.[1]
This allows formulators to introduce moisturising functionality without necessarily creating the heavier texture associated with some other moisturising systems.
NAGASE also identifies TREHALOSE 100 as stable across a wide range of temperatures and suitable for a variety of personal-care formats.[1]
This makes it relevant to both lightweight and richer products, including:
- toners
- serums
- gels
- emulsions
- creams
- shampoos
- conditioners
- oral-care products.
Recommended Use Levels
NAGASE provides the following suggested formulation ranges for TREHALOSE 100.[1]
| Application | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Skin care | 1–5% |
| Body care | 1–5% |
| Hair care | 1–5% |
| Oral care | 0.1–5% |
These ranges provide useful starting points for product development.
The optimum concentration will depend on factors including:
- formulation type
- desired moisturising performance
- other humectants and emollients
- product texture
- sensory requirements
- intended finished-product claims.
The 2026 human study provides an interesting example of why formulation optimisation matters: 2.5% produced the greatest reduction in TEWL, while the 1% formulation produced the greatest measured increase in hydration.[2]
Different concentrations can therefore be used to optimise different aspects of product performance.
Combining Trehalose with Other Moisturising Ingredients
Trehalose does not need to function as a stand-alone moisturiser.
Its properties make it well suited to complementary systems containing other ingredients such as:
- glycerol
- ceramides
- emollient oils
- occlusive ingredients
- other humectants
- film-forming ingredients.
The 2026 hydration study used trehalose within a complete emulsion system,[2] while separate human research has examined trehalose together with ceramides.[6]
This creates significant scope for formulators to use trehalose as one element of a broader hydration and barrier-support strategy.
Cosmetic-Grade TREHALOSE 100
Nagase Viita manufactures TREHALOSE 100 specifically for cosmetic and personal-care use.[1]
Its INCI name is simply:
Trehalose
TREHALOSE 100 is supplied as an odourless whitish crystalline powder and is designed for applications including:
- skin care
- body care
- hair care
- oral care.[1]
NAGASE identifies its principal benefits as moisturisation and protection against dehydration.[1]
TREHALOSE 100 is also available with established personal-care documentation and certifications, including COSMOS conformity and Halal certification.[1]
For professional cosmetic development, this provides formulators with a trehalose product designed specifically around personal-care requirements rather than simply adapting a generic carbohydrate ingredient.
Is Trehalose Safe for Cosmetic Use?
Trehalose has an established history of use in cosmetic products.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel assessed trehalose alongside related mono- and disaccharides and concluded that the ingredients reviewed were safe in the cosmetic practices and concentrations described in its assessment.[5]
The review considered available toxicology, irritation and sensitisation evidence and recognised trehalose's use as a cosmetic humectant.[5]
The recent four-week human moisturisation study also reported no erythema, irritation, itching or other adverse reactions from the trehalose-containing formulations tested.[2]
This combination of established cosmetic use, independent safety assessment and recent human formulation research provides a useful foundation for professional product development.
Beyond Moisturisation
Research into trehalose in skin biology continues to expand.
Laboratory studies are investigating areas including:
- oxidative stress
- epidermal differentiation
- barrier-associated signalling
- responses to environmental stress
- advanced ingredient-delivery systems.[3]
These areas may ultimately broaden the opportunities for cosmetic trehalose further.
For current commercial formulation, however, the strongest and most defensible positioning remains centred on:
- skin hydration
- moisture retention
- protection against dehydration
- skin-barrier support
- hair moisture management
- anti-humidity hair performance.
These functions already provide a substantial range of opportunities without relying on speculative or medical positioning.
Where Could Trehalose Be Used?
Trehalose can potentially be incorporated across a broad range of personal-care products.
Skin Care
- moisturisers
- serums
- toners
- essences
- masks
- gels
- creams
- products for dry or environmentally stressed skin.
Body Care
- lotions
- creams
- hand-care products
- moisturising gels
- cleansing formulations.
Hair Care
- shampoos
- conditioners
- leave-in treatments
- anti-humidity products
- heat-styling treatments
- smoothing and straightening products.
Oral Care
- mouthwashes
- gels
- toothpastes
- other water-based oral-care formulations.[1]
This breadth of potential applications makes trehalose particularly interesting to formulators looking for one multifunctional ingredient that can be used across several product categories.
Why Trehalose Is Interesting for Cosmetic Formulators
Trehalose occupies an unusual position among cosmetic moisturising ingredients.
It combines:
- strong water-binding properties
- evidence for increased skin hydration
- evidence for reduced TEWL
- emerging evidence relevant to skin-barrier function
- anti-dehydration properties
- useful hair-care performance
- high water solubility
- low formulation viscosity
- established cosmetic safety
- dedicated cosmetic-grade manufacture.[1–5]
It is therefore more than simply another sugar-based humectant.
For formulators developing modern skin, body and hair products, trehalose offers a combination of hydration, protection and formulation flexibility supported by a growing scientific evidence base.
Developing Cosmetic Products with Trehalose UK
Trehalose UK specialises in genuine Japanese trehalose from Nagase Viita and is expanding its support for cosmetic and personal-care applications.
We welcome enquiries from:
- cosmetic manufacturers
- independent formulators
- contract manufacturers
- product-development laboratories
- hair-care businesses
- personal-care brands
- universities and research organisations.
We can discuss development quantities, technical requirements and larger commercial supply according to the intended application.
If you are developing a moisturiser, serum, hair treatment or other personal-care product involving trehalose, contact Trehalose UK → to discuss your requirements.
Further Reading
References & Further Reading
[1] Nagase Viita Co., Ltd. TREHALOSE 100. Technical and product information for cosmetic-grade trehalose, including INCI, applications, formulation properties, recommended use levels and certifications.
NAGASE TREHALOSE 100 product information →
[2] Anna Czajkowska-Kośnik, Paulina Perkowska, and Katarzyna Winnicka. 2026. “Trehalose in an Emulsion-Based Carrier: Effects on Skin Hydration and Transepidermal Water Loss.” Cosmetics 13, no. 4: 196. DOI: 10.3390/cosmetics13040196.
[3] Xiuju Dai et al. 2025. “Trehalose Prevents IL-4/IL-13-Induced Skin Barrier Impairment by Suppressing IL-33 Expression and Increasing NRF2 Activation in Human Keratinocytes In Vitro.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology 145, no. 6: 1422–1432.e10. DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.08.038.
[4] Susan Pye and Prem K. C. Paul. 2012. “Trehalose in Hair Care: Heat Styling Benefits at High Humidity.” Journal of Cosmetic Science 63, no. 4: 233–241. PMID: 23193887.
[5] Monice M. Fiume et al. 2019. “Safety Assessment of Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Related Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.” International Journal of Toxicology 38, supplement 1. DOI: 10.1177/1091581818814189.
[6] Letteria Greco, Salviana Ullo, Luigi Rigano, Marco Fontana, Enzo Berardesca, and Norma Cameli. 2019. “Evaluation of the Filming and Protective Properties of a New Trehalose and Ceramides Based Ingredient.” Cosmetics 6, no. 4: 62. DOI: 10.3390/cosmetics6040062.