Humectant: (h)yo??mekt?nt

adjective.

retaining or preserving moisture.

noun.

a substance, esp. a skin lotion or a food additive, used to reduce the loss of moisture.

ORIGIN- early 19th century(denoting a moistening agent): from Latin humectant- ‘moistening,’ from the verb humectare, from humectus ‘moist, wet,’ from humere ‘be moist.’

The common ingredient in inexpensive moisturizers is glycerin. The desired ingredient (for now) is hyluronic acid. This ingredient binds considerably more moisture than glycerin and is produced naturally in the skin subsequently (in most people) causing little to no irritation.