Glyoxyldiureide

Glyoxyldiureide occurs as an end product of purine metabolism in plant and animal organisms and is formed from uric acid. The substance was discovered around 1800 when the French chemist and pharmacist Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin studied the body fluid found in the allantois, or embryonic urinary bladder of reptiles, mammals and birds. The INCI name allantoin (glyoxyldiureide) is thus derived from that very allantois.

Later, the substance could be isolated from the urine of calves. The two German chemists Friedrich Wöhler and Justus Liebig were the first to establish the connection with uric acid: by oxidizing it with lead dioxide, they obtained glyoxyldiureide. It is now known that the substance is also contained in many plants and plant components. In particular, black salsify, beets, the maple tree, wheat germ, but also horse chestnut bark should be mentioned here. In addition, the substance is one of the main active ingredients in the root of comfrey. It is known that comfrey extract has been used for centuries as a proven remedy for wound healing. And this brings us to the effect of glyoxyldiureide: the white, odorless powder has numerous positive properties and is used mainly in cosmetics.

The effect

Allantoin (glyoxyldiureide) is considered to have a pronounced cell-generating and wound-healing effect. In addition, the substance soothes irritated skin, for example in acne. This is due, among other things, to its keratoplastic properties: The substance softens the uppermost horny layer of the skin, so that (horny) pores open up and there is improved sebum drainage, which is extremely effective, especially in the fight against pimples and blackheads. At the same time, skin care products can better penetrate the skin. Sun-stressed skin also benefits from glyoxyldiureide, as itching and feelings of tightness are quickly reduced. Thanks to its ability to stimulate cell renewal, damaged skin cells are replaced by new healthy tissue within a short time. As the active ingredient is generally very well tolerated, it also proves its worth in formulations for sensitive, inflammatory and delicate skin.

It is also capable of removing necrotic tissue and has smoothing, anabolic, antioxidant and moisturizing properties.

Fact Sheet

INCI: Allantoin

Alternative names: 5-ureidohydantoin, N-(2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)urea, glyoxyldiureide

CAS number: 97-59-6

EINECS number: 202-592-8

Description: fine, white, odorless powder, usually produced synthetically for cosmetic purposes.

Concentration of use: 0.1 to 0.5 percent

Glyoxyldiureide in cosmetics

Glyoxyldiureide is used externally for wound treatment, skin and scar care, and against skin diseases. In addition, the substance is often included in medicines because it promotes the penetration of active ingredients.

It is excellent for skin emulsions, sunscreen preparations and shaving lotions, but has no antibacterial effect. For skin care series against impure skin, it is suitable for facial toners, peelings and creams.

Glyoxyldiureide is also increasingly being used in deodorants. On the one hand, the active ingredient soothes the sensitive and delicate skin under the armpits, which often reacts irritated by frequent shaving, sweating and overly aggressive deodorants; on the other hand, it has mild antiperspirant properties.

In hand creams, the active ingredient makes rough, dry and chapped or cracked skin pleasantly soft and supple again.

Chapped lips also benefit from the substance, which is being used in more and more lip balms.

Another area of application is caring foot creams for callus removal, especially when the active ingredient is combined with urea.

As far as the treatment of scars is concerned: although glyoxyldiureide cannot make scars completely invisible, the substance makes a significant contribution to ensuring that they are no longer so visually noticeable or stand out so strikingly from the surrounding skin areas.

Good to know: If possible, cosmetic preparations should not be stored in containers made of metal, otherwise catalytic decomposition may occur.

The German Society of Chemists has also published a collection of effects and application concentrations for allantoin.

At Cosmacon, we like to work with these allantoin-containing active ingredients:

Glyoxyldiureide in Cosmacon formulations

As early as 2000 years ago, the ancient Greeks valued comfrey root as a medicinal plant against many ailments, without, of course, suspecting at the time what a significant active ingredient it contained. And even today, glyoxyldiureide is an indispensable ingredient in sophisticated cosmetics. Cosmacon will be happy to develop effective cosmetic formulations for you with the proven allantoin.

Sources:

Datenblätter zur Bewertung der Wirksamkeit von Wirkstoffen in kosmetischen Mitteln.; Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker. Lebensmittelchemische Gesellschaft 2004.