Galactose
AKA “D-Galactopyranose, galactopyranose, galactopyranoside, (3R, 4S, 5R, 6R)-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-2, 3, 4, 5-tetrol, Galactose, pure, D-Gal, brain sugar, d-galactopyranoside, CHEBI:12936, CHEBI:28061
Skin Conditioning
Ingredient Facts
Galactose
AKA: D-Galactopyranose, Galactopyranose, Galactopyranoside, (3R, 4S, 5R, 6R)-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-2, 3, 4, 5-tetrol, Pure, D-Gal, Brain sugar, D-galactopyranoside, CHEBI:12936, CHEBI:28061
Skin Conditioning · Skin Conditioning · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Sugar-Based Active
Not Clean
Galactose has been used in trials studying the treatment and diagnosis of Hepatitis C, Hepatic Cancer, Wilsons Disease, Diabetic Macular Oedema, and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, among others. There are even proposals for its use in accelerating senescence in mice, rats, and Drosophila, for its association with ovarian cancer, or even for the potential treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Nevertheless, none of these ongoing studies have yet provided formal elucidation for their proposals. As a naturally occurring sugar, it may be found in a number dairy products. Even then, however, it is not generally used as a sweetener considering it is only about 30% as sweet as sucrose. Regardless, although it is predominantly used as a pathway to generate glucose fuel for the human body, galactose is involved as an ingredient in some commonly used vaccines and non-prescription products.
Formula
C6H12O6
Mol. Weight
180.16
CAS #
59-23-4
Form
Powder
State
White powder; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS]
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A simple sugar identified in the 19th century during carbohydrate research. Its use in skincare is a modern application based on its hydrating and skin-conditioning properties, though it has no traditional medicinal history.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Skin Permeation and Oxidative Protection Effect of Soybean Isoflavones from Topical Nanoemulsions-a Comparative Study of Extracts and Pure Compounds.
Back PI, Furtado LR, Nemitz MC, Balestrin LA, Fachel FNS et al.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2018
Safety Assessment of Anhydrogalactose,Anhydroglucitol, Anhydroxylitol, Arabinose,Psicose, Saccharide Hydrolysate, andSaccharide Isomerate as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Anhydrogalactose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Echinacea Purpurea (echinacea) flower/leaf/stem Extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Echinacea Purpurea Extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Galactose
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Porphyridium Purpureum Extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Claviceps purpurea Tul., its alkaloids and galenical preparations
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Digitalis purpurea L., all heterosides of
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Safety Assessment of Anhydrogalactose, Anhydroglucitol, Anhydroxylitol, Arabinose, Psicose, Saccharide Hydrolysate, and Saccharide Isomerate as Used i
Johnson W Jr, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Safety Assessment of Anhydrogalactose, Anhydroglucitol, Anhydroxylitol, Arabinose, Psicose, Saccharide Hydrolysate, and Saccharide Isomerate as Used i
Johnson W Jr, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Sulfated Exopolysaccharides from Porphyridium purpureum: A Review of Extraction, Structural Characterization, and Chemical Properties for Advanced App
Maulina D, Mun'im A, Bayu A, Setiawan H, Mohd Hashim N
F1000Research, 2025
Antioxidant and Antiaging Properties of Agar Obtained from Brown Seaweed Laminaria digitata (Hudson) in D-Galactose-Induced Swiss Albino Mice.
Reshma BS, Aavula T, Narasimman V, Ramachandran S, Essa MM et al.
Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2022
Galactose-Induced Skin Aging: The Role of Oxidative Stress.
Bauyrzhan Umbayev, Sholpan Askarova, Aigul Almabayeva, Timur Saliev, Abdul-Razak Masoud, Denis Bulanin
Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2020
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR