Cyclodextrin
AKA “beta-CYCLODEXTRIN, Betadex, Cycloheptaamylose, Cyclomaltoheptaose, Cycloheptaglucan”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Cyclodextrin
AKA: Beta-CYCLODEXTRIN, Betadex, Cycloheptaamylose, Cyclomaltoheptaose, Cycloheptaglucan
Synthetic · Absorbent · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Chelating Agent
Synthetic
Clean
A natural ingredient that helps absorb excess oil and moisture while trapping impurities, keeping your skin feeling fresh and clean throughout the day.
Formula
C36H60O30
Mol. Weight
972.8
CAS #
7585-39-9, 12619-70-4
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Absorbent
Chelating
Grabs onto metal ions in water that would destabilize the formula. Keeps your product from going bad or changing color.
Absorbs Excess Oil
Removes Metal Ions
Fights Bacteria
Reduces Inflammation
Binds metal ions
Traditional Use
Discovered in 1891 by French chemist Antoine Villiers as a byproduct of starch fermentation. Developed in the mid-20th century as an encapsulation agent in cosmetics to stabilize and deliver active ingredients more effectively than natural carriers.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
Dermal absorption: 2%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 680).
Regulatory Agencies
Cyclodextrin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cyclodextrin Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cyclodextrin Laurate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxyethyl Cyclodextrin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Methyl Cyclodextrin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cyclodextrin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Methyl Cyclodextrin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Cyclodextrin-based dermatological formulations: Dermopharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.
Ferreira L, Mascarenhas-Melo F, Rabaça S, Mathur A, Sharma A et al.
Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2023
Development of sucrose stearate-based nanoemulsions and optimisation through γ-cyclodextrin.
Klang V, Matsko N, Raupach K, El-Hagin N, Valenta C
European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V, 2011
Enhancement of stability and skin permeation by sucrose stearate and cyclodextrins in progesterone nanoemulsions.
Klang V, Matsko N, Zimmermann AM, Vojnikovic E, Valenta C
International journal of pharmaceutics, 2010
Enhancement of stability and skin permeation by sucrose stearate and cyclodextrins in progesterone nanoemulsions.
Klang V, Matsko N, Zimmermann AM, Vojnikovic E, Valenta C
International journal of pharmaceutics, 2010
Mannitol Is a Good Anticaking Agent for Spray-Dried Hydroxypropyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin Microcapsules.
Kou X, Zhang X, Cheng Y, Yu M, Meng Q et al.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2023
Pickering emulsions based on cyclodextrins: A smart solution for antifungal azole derivatives topical delivery.
Leclercq L, Nardello-Rataj V
European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase: fundamentals and biotechnological implications.
Pardhi DS, Rabadiya KJ, Panchal RR, Raval VH, Joshi RG et al.
Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 2023
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR