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A humectant is a substance used to retain moisture. It is often used in cosmetics such as lotions and foods. Commonly used humectants include sorbitol, used in sugarless foods, polydextrose, used in foods such as dressings, and glycerol, which is often used in lotions and moisturizing creams. The oldest known humectants used were salt and sugar, which date back to ancient times. There are also biologically significant humectants. Sodium PCA, for example, is found in skin cells and is believed to be one of the primary moisturizers of skin cells.