Common Name(s): Isosorbide,isosorbide,bicyclic diol penetration enhancer,co-solvent active delivery
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Dissolves lipophilic active ingredients for aqueous formulation, enhances sc penetration of co-formulated actives through mild barrier disruption from the bicyclic diol's conformationally constrained interaction with sc lipid bilayers.
Why It's Used: Isosorbide provides the penetration enhancement of glycols without the irritation risk of propylene glycol or ethanol — the bicyclic rigidity reducing the membrane perturbation per molecule while the two hydroxyl groups provide sufficient hydrogen bonding for penetration enhancement.
How It Works: Isosorbide's rigid bicyclic structure (cis-1,4:3,6-dianhydrosorbitol) provides conformational constraint that disrupts sc lamellar lipid packing through geometric mismatch — the rigid angular geometry disrupting the regular lamellar organisation more efficiently per mole than flexible glycols while causing less protein denaturing.
Typically Found In: Active delivery,penetration enhancement,formulation aid
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%–10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required
Halal Status: Unverified - supplier confirmation required
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: the record's own source_notes does not assert a non-animal origin, or instructs the reader to verify with the supplier; "yes" asserts knowledge the record does not hold. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Isosorbide bio-based credentials: derived from sorbitol from starch/corn fermentation, providing a renewable gras-adjacent co-solvent for clean beauty formulations seeking propylene glycol alternatives.
Last Verified: 2026-03-22
Primary Sources: Cosing database,isosorbide bicyclic diol penetration enhancer review