Urea (Ingredient Explained + Products)

These ingredients help hydrate the skin by either drawing in moisture or preventing it from escaping. They're often used to keep skin feeling soft, smooth, and well-balanced.

The most common cause of textured skin is a build up of dead skin cells. The easiest way to get rid of textured skin is to exfoliate and give your skin the proper nutrients.

These ingredients are known to be potential triggers for rosacea. However, triggers vary greatly between individuals. Keep a diary to identify your personal triggers and work with a dermatologist to develop a gentle, effective routine.

These ingredients are known to be potential triggers for eczema. However, triggers vary greatly between individuals. Keep a diary to identify your personal triggers and work with a dermatologist to develop a gentle, effective routine.

Urea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.

As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.

Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.

In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.

Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.