Urea (carbamide) is the same small, highly hygroscopic molecule the skin’s own natural moisturizing factor (NMF) relies on, and it remains one of the most cost-effective and best-documented humectants in personal care. Cosmetic-grade material is a white, odourless crystalline solid or free-flowing prill, supplied in standard (46–47% N) and high-purity / clinical grades, with CAS No. 57-13-6 and INCI name Urea. Future Market Insights sizes the cosmetic-grade urea market at roughly USD 91.5 million in 2026, growing to USD 143.5 million by 2036 at a 4.6% CAGR — modest headline growth, but built on a base of steady repeat purchasing from barrier-repair, foot-care and clinical-style body care programmes.
How Urea Works
Urea is both a humectant and a keratolytic, and the effect is concentration-dependent. At 2–10% it binds water in the stratum corneum, restores hydration and supports the skin’s own NMF pool, which makes it a workhorse for daily moisturizers, barrier creams and sensitive-skin formulas. At 20–40% it additionally denatures and loosens keratin, softening thickened, scaly and fissured skin — the mechanism behind its long-standing use in diabetic foot care, psoriasis-adjacent regimens and heel-repair products.
Urea also enhances penetration of co-formulated actives and shows good compatibility with ceramides, glycerin, panthenol and lactic acid, which is why formulators increasingly use it as the hydration chassis of a barrier brief rather than as a standalone claim ingredient. It is non-ionic, pH-flexible and easy to process, with no significant sensory penalty at cosmetic loadings.
Key Applications
- Foot & heel repair – 20–40% creams and balms for callus, fissures and dry, thickened skin; the strongest volume driver in the category
- Body care & hand creams – 5–15% lotions for very dry skin, eczema-prone skin and winter repair ranges
- Facial moisturizers & clinical-style skincare – 2–10% in barrier and anti-aging emulsions, often paired with ceramides or niacinamide
- Hair & scalp care – humectant and scalp-flake support in shampoos, conditioners and scalp tonics
- Medical devices & dermocosmetics – hydrogels, post-procedure repair gels and urea-based emollient dressings requiring pharmaceutical-grade documentation
VeraVita Biotech Supply
Xi’an VeraVita Biotech Co., Ltd. supplies cosmetic-grade Urea with purity ≥99%, in standard prill and high-purity grades, with particle size and moisture specification to order. Batch COA and MSDS are available on request, alongside allergen statements and heavy-metal data for regulated markets. We support OEM/ODM projects from sample to commercial scale, including custom concentrations, private-label filling and documentation packages for cosmetic and device-adjacent positioning.
For pricing, samples or a full technical dossier, contact our team at info@veravitabio.com.