Sorbitol is a transparent sugar that occurs naturally in many fruits and berries, corn, even seaweed. It can also be synthetically produced. It’s used in a wide range of skin products because it retains moisture, thickens the texture of the product and helps the product be distributed easily over the skin. In glycerin based products sorbitol also provides clarity and translucency. Because it’s a natural food, there is no known risk in applying it directly to skin. It does not have any active effect on the skin itself.