Humectant compositions containing thiamorpholinone or a derivative thereof

A process for imparting suppleness and elasticity to the skin comprising applying to the skin in an amount effective to impart suppleness and elasticity to said skin, a cosmetic composition containing 0.1 to 20 weight percent of a humectant, said humectant being a compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each independently represent hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1-14 carbon atoms,

• R.sub.3 represents hydrogen, linear or branched lower alkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms, mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl having 2-16 carbon atoms, carbamylalkyl, carboxyalkyl or alkoxycarbonylalkyl, wherein the alkyl moiety of each has 1-17 carbon atoms and the alkoxy moiety has 1-3 carbon atoms,
• R.sub.4 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms or --COOR.sub.5 wherein R.sub.5 represents hydrogen, alkyl having 1-18 carbon atoms, alkyl having 1-18 carbon atoms and interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, or mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl having 2-18 carbon atoms, and
• n is 0 or 1.