Urea
Urea is a naturally occurring humectant and skin-conditioning agent widely used in UK skincare and haircare products. It helps draw moisture into the skin, leaving it softer, smoother and better hydrated. Found in everything from foot creams to facial moisturisers, it is a gentle yet effective ingredient for tackling dryness.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, urea functions primarily as a humectant and keratolytic agent. It attracts and binds water to the skin’s surface while helping to soften and gently exfoliate the outermost layer of dead skin cells, improving the overall texture and appearance of dry or rough areas. At the concentrations used in beauty products it is well tolerated and enhances the penetration of other active ingredients without causing irritation for most users.
Key benefits
- Intensely hydrates dry skin
- Softens rough patches and calluses
- Improves skin smoothness and texture
- Strengthens the skin barrier
- Enhances absorption of other skincare ingredients
- Conditions and smooths dry, brittle hair
Best for
dry skin, very dry skin, rough skin, mature skin, cracked heels
Where it comes from
While urea is produced synthetically for cosmetic use, it is chemically identical to the urea naturally found in human skin. In nature it occurs in many plants and is traditionally sourced from the urine of mammals, though today’s beauty-grade urea is lab-produced for purity and consistency.