Ingredient glossary
Cyclodextrin
On your shelf ✓What Cyclodextrin does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Cyclodextrin · Also: Gamma-Cyclodextrin, Beta-Cyclodextrin
In short: Cyclodextrin delivers oxidative stability and solubilization, plays a broad, supporting role, and the evidence behind it is moderate.
- What it does
- Oxidative stability, solubilization
- Best for
- A broad, supporting role
- Evidence
- Moderate
What it actually is
The Glow take
Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.
Cyclodextrin plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.
— Maya
What it does
- oxidative stability
- solubilization
moderate evidencePublished work describes a gamma-cyclodextrin complex holding retinaldehyde in a reversible hemiacetal, improving stability and slowing release. The gain belongs to the active it carries; on its own it does nothing for skin.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
No specific skin type. It is a broadly used ingredient.
Approach with care
No specific group flagged to avoid it.
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilyNeutral
- SensitiveNeutral
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- retinoids
- antioxidants
- vitamin c
Cyclodextrin, answered
Is Cyclodextrin safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Cyclodextrin is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Cyclodextrin?
No specific group is flagged to avoid Cyclodextrin. It is well tolerated by most skin. Still, introduce anything new one product at a time.
What concentration of Cyclodextrin actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
Can you mix Cyclodextrin with
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.