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Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid suppliers and sourcing guide

Hyaluronic acid is a long-chain polysaccharide built from repeating units of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine; most commercial material is sold as its sodium salt, sodium hyaluronate. Today it is mainly produced by bacterial fermentation, then precipitated, purified and dried to a white powder, with molecular weight set by the fermentation and by controlled breakdown afterward. Historically it was extracted from animal tissue such as rooster combs. In formulations it works as a water-binding humectant and film former that also raises the viscosity of water phases.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Sodium hyaluronate · Hyaluronan · INCI: SODIUM HYALURONATE · INCI: HYALURONIC ACID
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of hyaluronic acid

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • High molecular weight

    Long-chain grades (often above 1 million daltons) that build viscosity and form a film on the surface; used at low percentages in serums and gels.

  • Medium and low molecular weight

    Partly depolymerized grades with lower viscosity, easier to dissolve and combine with other actives.

  • Oligo / very low molecular weight

    Short-chain hyaluronate fragments, sold separately from standard grades for formulas that need a thin, non-tacky texture.

  • Modified derivatives

    Chemically modified forms such as crosslinked, acetylated, cationic or oil-dispersible hyaluronates, each with its own INCI name.

  • Food grade

    Sodium hyaluronate made for use in foods and dietary supplements, sold to a separate specification from cosmetic grades.

  • Pharmaceutical grade

    Grades meeting pharmacopeia monographs (for example Ph. Eur. or JP sodium hyaluronate), with tighter purity and endotoxin limits.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Assay / glucuronic acid content
Hyaluronate content, often calculated from glucuronic acid by a colorimetric (carbazole) method or HPLC; confirms how much of the powder is the active polymer.
Molecular weight or intrinsic viscosity
Average molecular weight, reported directly or from intrinsic viscosity; this defines the grade and drives viscosity and texture in the finished product.
Identity
FTIR spectrum matched to a reference, sometimes with a sodium identity test.
Protein and nucleic acid residues
Residual protein and absorbance at 260 nm, which show how well fermentation by-products were removed.
pH, loss on drying and clarity
pH of a set-strength solution, moisture, and solution appearance, which affect dissolution and finished-product clarity.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury against the supplier's specification.
Microbiology and endotoxin
Total aerobic count, yeast and mold and specified organisms; bacterial endotoxin is also reported for higher-purity grades.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Sodium hyaluronate powder is hygroscopic and should be kept tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat and light. Heat, acids, oxidizers and microbial contamination break down the polymer chain, so viscosity and molecular weight can drift with poor storage or once dissolved. Suppliers assign a retest date; molecular weight or viscosity plus micro are the usual retest checks.

Lots and expiry dates

Molecular weight and viscosity vary from lot to lot even within one grade, so record the actual values from each COA and check that they fall inside the range your formula was built on. Keep cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical grades as separate items, and use FEFO with retest dates tracked per lot.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Hyaluronic Acid suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

  • Contipro

    Manufacturer · Dolní Dobrouč, Czechia

    Czech biotechnology company that produces hyaluronic acid. Its cosmetic range spans standard, high, medium, low and very low molecular weight sodium hyaluronate plus modified derivatives.

    Checked November 2026Visit website for Contipro (opens in a new tab)

  • Kewpie Corporation

    Manufacturer

    Sells it as Hyabest

    Japanese food company whose fine chemicals division makes hyaluronic acid by microbial fermentation. It sells food grades under Hyabest and cosmetic and pharmaceutical grades under Hyaluronsan.

    Checked November 2026Visit website for Kewpie Corporation (opens in a new tab)

  • MakingCosmetics

    Distributor · Redmond, WA

    US supplier of cosmetic ingredients repackaged in retail and bulk sizes, covering actives, butters, oils, waxes and emulsifiers for brands, contract manufacturers and independent formulators.

    • Certified organic
    • cGMP
    Checked November 2026Visit website for MakingCosmetics (opens in a new tab)

Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.

Frequently asked questions

What forms of hyaluronic acid can brands buy?

Common forms include high molecular weight, medium and low molecular weight, oligo / very low molecular weight, modified derivatives, food grade and pharmaceutical grade. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for hyaluronic acid include?

Expect assay / glucuronic acid content, molecular weight or intrinsic viscosity, identity, protein and nucleic acid residues, pH, loss on drying and clarity, heavy metals and microbiology and endotoxin, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should hyaluronic acid be stored?

Sodium hyaluronate powder is hygroscopic and should be kept tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat and light. Heat, acids, oxidizers and microbial contamination break down the polymer chain, so viscosity and molecular weight can drift with poor storage or once dissolved. Suppliers assign a retest date; molecular weight or viscosity plus micro are the usual retest checks.

What is the regulatory status of hyaluronic acid?

The EU CosIng database lists SODIUM HYALURONATE (CAS 9067-32-7) with the functions humectant and skin conditioning. Under FDA cosmetic labeling rules (21 CFR 701.3), ingredients are declared on the label in descending order of predominance. Under MoCRA, the responsible person must list each marketed cosmetic product with FDA, including its ingredients.

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