Ingredients

Allantoin

Written by Reviewed by the SYNC editorial team Published Last reviewed Editorial standards

Allantoin — a gentle, skin-conditioning ingredient, found naturally in plants such as comfrey, that is prized for its soothing and softening effects. It helps calm the look of irritated skin and supports a smoother, more comfortable surface.

Key points

  • It is widely used as a soothing agent to help calm the appearance of irritated or sensitized skin.
  • It has keratolytic, skin-smoothing properties that can help soften rough or flaky texture.
  • It is considered very gentle and is common in products for sensitive and reactive skin.
  • It is often paired with other calming and hydrating ingredients in moisturizers, creams, and after-sun formulas.

Frequently asked

What is allantoin used for in skincare?

It is used primarily to soothe and soften skin, helping formulas feel more comforting and supporting a smoother surface texture.

Is allantoin safe for sensitive skin?

Allantoin is considered gentle and non-irritating, which is why it frequently appears in products formulated for sensitive or easily irritated skin.

Related topics

This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.

Encyclopedia

Further reading

This entry was written and checked against the sources below. They are published by clinical and scientific bodies, they are listed most readable first, and each one opens in a new tab. They are background for the whole entry rather than footnotes to individual sentences.

  1. Allantoin CosmeticsInfo Regulatory and safety cosmeticsinfo.org
  2. Allantoin Cosmetic Ingredient Review Regulatory and safety cir-safety.org
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Over-the-Counter (OTC) Monograph M016 U.S. FDA Regulatory and safety accessdata.fda.gov
  4. Fabrication and characterization of scaffolds containing different amounts of allantoin for skin tissue engineering PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Natural Film Based on Pectin and Allantoin for Wound ... PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

SYNC does not publish medical advice. Nothing here replaces a consultation with a doctor or a pharmacist about your own skin.