Urea Active Ingredient
Exfoliating
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Application: hair care, skin care
Level of difficulty: medium
I add it to an AZ neutral base: yes
Suitable for cosmetic recipes: yes
Used as an ingredient in your formulations:
Skin care
Intense moisture-quenching cream
Anti “crocodile skin” body lotion
Gentle care for delicate skin
Smoothing moisture-boosting lotion
Cream for dry feet
Exfoliating cleansing gel
Radiance-boosting moisture mask
Hair care
Moisturizing and soothing shampoo for scalps prone to discomfort
Moisture-boosting hair mask for very dry scalps
As a cosmetic ingredient, urea is recognized for the following properties:
Powerful moisturizer: thanks to its humectant properties, urea enhances the epidermis’ ability to attract and retain water
Keratolytic: helps remove flakes and dead skin cells, promotes the renewal of corneocytes
Softening: leaves the skin soft and supple
Penetrates very easily into the epidermis
Enhances the penetration of other active ingredients
Purifying: helps limit the growth of bacteria on the skin and in formulations
Skin types
Dry and very dry skin, dehydrated skin
Atopic-prone skin
Very dry feet
Dark spots, dull or uneven complexion
Dry acne-prone skin
Skin prone to comedones
As a hair care ingredient, urea is recognized for the following properties:
Intensive moisturizer: improves the scalp’s ability to retain water
Exfoliating: helps eliminate dandruff
Hair types
Dry to very dry scalps
Dandruff
Sensitive scalps
Preparation
Add it to a neutral Aroma-Zone base
Urea can be incorporated as an active ingredient into your water-based cosmetic preparations: creams, lotions, gels, body washes, shampoos...
Incorporating urea into an emulsion
3 possible options:
Incorporation into the water phase before emulsification (recommended for higher concentrations: 5–10%)
Dissolve the urea in the water phase before emulsification. If emulsification requires heating (which is the case most of the time), incorporate the urea into the hot water phase. Avoid heating it too strongly or for too long.
Use this water phase to prepare the emulsion as usual.
Incorporation at the end of the formulation after pre-dissolution
Dissolve the urea in a small amount of water (approx. 1 g/ml) or glycerin (approx. 1 g/2 ml). This will limit the amount of urea that can be incorporated into the product (avoid exceeding 10% total additions in an emulsion).
Incorporate the water/urea or glycerin/urea mixture into the cooled emulsion at the end of the formulation.
Incorporate the urea as is at the end of the formulation, into the lukewarm (50°C) or cooled emulsion.
Incorporate the urea as is at the end of the formulation, into the lukewarm (50°C) or cooled emulsion.
Stir until the crystals are completely dissolved.
Note: This last method is not suitable for water-in-oil creams, but works perfectly at low urea concentrations (1–5%) in oil-in-water emulsions, stirring well until the crystals are fully dissolved.
Incorporating urea into an aqueous gel, lotion or foaming product
Dissolve the urea in the water phase, preferably cold, stirring thoroughly until the granules are completely dissolved.
Use the water phase in the rest of the preparation (by adding a gelling agent, surfactants, etc.).
NB: It is also possible to add the urea at the end of the preparation, stirring well until the crystals are completely dissolved. This is preferable if the preparation requires heating of the aqueous phase.
Urea can also be incorporated at up to 5% into a ready-to-use AZ Neutral Base to create:
an emulsion: with the Neutral Organic Plant Milk, the Neutral Organic Youth Cream and Neutral Organic Moisturizing Cream, or the Neutral Organic Hair Mask Base
an aqueous gel: with the Organic Aloe Vera Gel
a mask: with the Peel-Off Mask Base
a foaming product: with the Neutral Organic Cleansing Base, the Neutral Organic Shampoo Base, or the Neutral Organic Cleansing Cream Base
Precautions
Precautions and allergens
Precautions for use
Allergens
Allergen-free
General Characteristics
Dosage
1 to 10% Moisturizing: 1 to 5%; Moisturizing and keratolytic: 5 to 10%
Insoluble in oil
Löslich in Wasser
Use in homemade cosmetics
Cream & lotion, gel, lotion, shampoo, shower gel
1 scoop 5 ml (level*) | 3.8 g |
1 scoop 2 ml (level*) | 1.7 g |
1 stainless steel spoon TAD (level*) | 0.5 g |
1 stainless steel spoon DASH (level*) | 0.3 g |
1 stainless steel spoon PINCH (level*) | 0.22 g |
1 spoon 2 ml (level*) | 1.3 g |
1 spoon 0.5 ml (level*) | 0.36 g |
* level: spoon filled to the rim, with the excess removed using a spatula or the back of a knife.
1% Urea | 0.3 g |
5% Urea | 1.5 g |
10% Urea | 3.0 g |
1% Urea | 0.5 g |
5% Urea | 2.5 g |
10% Urea | 5.0 g |
1% Urea | 1.0 g |
5% Urea | 5.0 g |
10% Urea | 10.0 g |
1% Urea | 2.5 g |
5% Urea | 12.5 g |
10% Urea | 25.0 g |
Synergies
Skin care
Care for atopic-prone skin: Chaulmoogra vegetable oil, Inca inchi vegetable oil, Kiwi CO2 extract, Roman Chamomile hydrosol, Colloidal Oatmeal powder...
Care for dry skin: Plant-based Squalane, Hyaluronic acid, Plant-based Collagen, Inulin...
Care for dry, acne-prone skin: Algo’zinc, Bacti-Pur, Fragonia, Green Myrtle and Palmarosa essential oils, Lemon, Witch Hazel and Tea Tree hydrosols...
Very dry and rough skin: AHA fruit acids (exfoliating), Bisabolol (to soothe and improve AHA tolerance)
Hair care
Dry scalps: Plant-based Ceramides, Provitamin B5...
Sensitive scalps: Burdock extract, Peony powder...
Quality
Cosmetic grade, 100% pure
We now offer urea in the form of a fine crystalline powder, much easier to dissolve in your formulas than the granulated powder.
Function
Moisturizing and keratolytic cosmetic active
Benefits and properties
Exfoliating
Moisturizing
Composition
100% pure urea
Other names
Carbamide
INCI name
Urea
Presentation
White crystalline powder with a characteristic, slightly ammonia-like odor, packaged in resealable zip bags
Learn more
Urea is a compound that occurs naturally in the body, where it is produced through the metabolism of amino acids. It is one of the hygroscopic components that make up the “Natural Moisturizing Factor” (NMF), meaning the group of substances that help maintain the skin’s natural hydration.
Highly hygroscopic, urea acts as a humectant (drawing water into the upper layer of the epidermis), but it also has the ability to “dissolve” keratin by altering the structure of protein chains.
This keratolytic effect promotes the removal of flakes and dead skin cells and also enhances water penetration, boosting its moisturizing power. Thanks to this exfoliating action, urea stimulates skin renewal and restores a smoother, softer appearance to the skin.
In cosmetics, urea is therefore highly valued in products for dry, very dry and blemish-prone skin. It is very well tolerated, even by sensitive skin, making it an ingredient of choice for sensitive and atopic-prone skin care. It is also an excellent alternative to fruit acids (AHAs) for a gentle “peeling” effect and for improving dull, uneven complexions, as well as skin showing signs of photoaging (dark spots, fine lines, etc.).
Urea is also appreciated by skin prone to comedones and acne-prone skin, particularly skin that has undergone drying treatments. These skin types need effective yet non-film-forming hydration*, and the keratolytic effect helps limit comedone formation and improve overall skin condition.
*hydration of the upper layers of the epidermis
Storage
Store at room temperature away from moisture and light.
Close the bag tightly after use.
Precautions
Keep out of reach of children.
Do not swallow.
Follow the recommended dosage.
Environmental qualities and characteristics product sheet
Reference
03105 - Urea 10 g
Main packaging material
Paper bag
Recyclability
Most packaging can be recycled
Reference
01943 - urea (powder) 100 g
Main packaging material
Paper bag
Recyclability
Most packaging can be recycled
Supplier documentation
Raab WP
Uses of urea in cosmetology, Cosmetics and Toiletries.
Efficacy of topical 10% urea-based lotion in patients with ichthyosis vulgaris: a two-center, randomized, controlled, single-blind, right-vs.-left study in comparison with standard glycerol-based emollient cream, Curr Med Res Opin.
Tadini G, Giustini S, Milani M.
Cream or foam in pedal skin care: towards the ideal vehicle for urea used against dry skin, Int J Cosmet Sci.
Borelli C, Bielfeldt S, Borelli S, Schaller M, Korting HC.
A double-blind study of tolerance and efficacy of a new urea-containing moisturizer in patients with atopic dermatitis, J Cosmet Dermatol.
Bissonnette R, Maari C, Provost N, Bolduc C, Nigen S, Rougier A, Seite S.
I took this active ingredient to combine it with a cream for calluses on the feet. I haven't been able to test it for several weeks yet, but it already makes my feet soft.
Excellent!
I'm used to the product, I've ordered it several times already. Perfect in my all-purpose cream.
To make a cream for dry heels and slightly rough elbows. It works because after a few uses my feet are almost ready for summer.
Very good for horse care Ingredients useful for itching
Associated products

£5.00
10 ml


