The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Trehalose
aka alpha,alpha-trehalose · mushroom sugar · mycosamine
A non-reducing disaccharide with exceptional dehydration protection properties. Used as a humectant and desiccation protectant in prestige dry haircare formulations.
- Exceptional dehydration protection — vitrification mechanism
- Humectant water binding
- Protects protein structures from dehydration stress
- Stabilises heat and desiccation-sensitive actives in formulations
- Naturally occurring in organisms adapted to extreme desiccation (tardigrades, resurrection plants)
- Dry shampoo formulations
- Desiccation-protective hair treatments
- Premium humectant serums
- Active-stabilising encapsulation vehicles
- Skin protective formulas for harsh climates
Water-soluble; very stable across broad pH and temperature range. Highly hygroscopic — absorbs ambient moisture, which is desirable in humectant applications.
At very high concentrations can feel tacky. Expensive relative to conventional humectants. Not commonly used as a primary humectant due to cost.
Accepted in clean beauty. Mushroom and natural organism origin supports clean and biotech narrative. Associated with the bioresilience and climate-adaptive ingredient trend.
The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Trehalose
aka alpha,alpha-trehalose · mushroom sugar · mycosamine
A non-reducing disaccharide with exceptional dehydration protection properties. Used as a humectant and desiccation protectant in prestige dry haircare formulations.
- Exceptional dehydration protection — vitrification mechanism
- Humectant water binding
- Protects protein structures from dehydration stress
- Stabilises heat and desiccation-sensitive actives in formulations
- Naturally occurring in organisms adapted to extreme desiccation (tardigrades, resurrection plants)
- Dry shampoo formulations
- Desiccation-protective hair treatments
- Premium humectant serums
- Active-stabilising encapsulation vehicles
- Skin protective formulas for harsh climates
Water-soluble; very stable across broad pH and temperature range. Highly hygroscopic — absorbs ambient moisture, which is desirable in humectant applications.
At very high concentrations can feel tacky. Expensive relative to conventional humectants. Not commonly used as a primary humectant due to cost.
Accepted in clean beauty. Mushroom and natural organism origin supports clean and biotech narrative. Associated with the bioresilience and climate-adaptive ingredient trend.