Feuchtigkeitsfüller

Feuchtigkeitsfüller is a non-standard term used in German-language contexts to describe substances or materials that serve to introduce, retain, or regulate moisture in a system. The term may be encountered in cosmetics, where it denotes humectants and moisturizers that attract and hold water in the stratum corneum, thereby improving skin hydration. Common examples are glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and hyaluronic acid derivatives. In such usage, Feuchtigkeitsfüller work by creating a reservoir of water that can diffuse to the skin or surface, reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and providing a plumping effect.

In materials science and construction, the concept refers to hygroscopic fillers used to absorb moisture from the surrounding environment or to modulate moisture transport within a composite or cementitious system. These fillers can influence properties such as shrinkage, dimensional stability, and moisture resistance, and are selected based on their hygroscopicity, chemical compatibility, and effect on the matrix.

In dentistry and medicine, fillers described as moisture-retaining may be used to maintain a hydrated state of gels, pastes, or impression materials, or as components of dermal fillers that also provide moisture retention as part of their mechanism.

Due to the lack of a single, standardized definition, the term should be clarified by context. In many cases Feuchtigkeitsfüller is used interchangeably with Feuchthaltemittel (humectant) or with moisture-retaining fillers.