Maltodextrin

Maltodextrin is a starch-derived polysaccharide used mainly as a binder, bulking agent, or carrier for other ingredients, typically at low percentages in leave-on products and higher in some powders/masks. Clinical experience and patch-test data generally show it is well tolerated with low intrinsic irritancy, but it is not fully inert and can occasionally contribute to irritation (often via formulation effects like residue/occlusion or as a carrier for more reactive actives). For severe sensitivity/eczema-prone patients, I score it as very gentle rather than inert to avoid underestimating rare reactivity. Safety Notes: In commercial skincare, maltodextrin is most often used at very low levels (~0.01–0.5%) as a carrier/bulking aid for botanical extracts, enzymes, flavors/fragrances, or microencapsulated actives in leave-on and rinse-off products. Higher levels (5–20%) are found in some masks, scrubs, and powder-to-foam cleansers where it functions as a bulking agent/absorbent and to improve powder flow and reconstitution; the upper end (~25–30%) occurs in anhydrous or mostly-powder consumer products (e.g., enzyme cleansing powders, dry masks) where maltodextrin can be a major base component. There is no specific FDA/EU cosmetic maximum concentration limit for maltodextrin; practical limits are driven by texture, tackiness, solubility, and microbial risk in water-based leave-on formulas.