Inositol
Vitamin B8
No meaningful concern for most people; irritation is possible but rare.
Also written as: Myo-Inositol
What it is
Inositol is a carbohydrate the body makes itself and also obtains from foods such as grains and beans, where it plays a role in cell signalling. Sometimes loosely called vitamin B8, it is not strictly a vitamin. In cosmetics it acts as a mild humectant and skin-conditioning agent, often in formulas positioned as barrier-supporting.
What it does well
Provides gentle hydration and conditioning
Inositol binds water and is very well tolerated. Most published research concerns inositol taken orally for metabolic conditions rather than applied to skin, so topical claims rest on modest evidence.
Limited evidence
Worth knowing
Topical evidence is thin
There are no known safety issues, but strong skin-specific claims for inositol are not well supported by published trials.
Matters most toAnyone paying extra for this ingredient specifically.
Where the EU stands
No specific restriction
Permitted in EU cosmetics with no concentration limit. It is not listed in the banned, restricted or preservative annexes of the Cosmetics Regulation.
