Hydrocolloid

Hydrocolloid is technically not a cosmetic ingredient. It is a type of material used to dress uninfected wounds. Hydrocolloid is coated with a mix of gelatin, pectin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, and other biopolymers.

Hydrocolloid patches made for treating pimples often have other ingredients, such as tea tree oil, salicylic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid, and more. Unfortunately, unless a company discloses this information, we won't have a way to know what other ingredients are present.

When hydrocolloid is applied to a wound, the polysaccharides and polymers absorb water to form a gel. These moist conditions help promote wound healing without breaking down cell tissue.