PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humectant having improved moisture retention compared with the case of &alpha-D-dihydroxypropyl glucopyranoside alone, and allowing easy mass production.SOLUTION: The humectant includes sugar composed of a compound represented by formula (1) (where n, the degree of condensation of sugar, is an integer of 1 or greater) and having an average degree of condensation of sugar of 1.45-1.98, and a compound represented by formula (2), in a mass ratio of 45-80:20-55.