Dehydroacetic Acid

Dehydroacetic Acid is a cosmetic ingredient used as a preservative agent. It appears in about 1% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 27 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameDEHYDROACETIC ACID
FunctionPRESERVATIVE
CAS number520-45-6 / 771-03-9 / 16807-48-0
EC number208-293-9 / 212-227-4 / -
Prevalence1,234 products (1.33% of dataset)
Most used inSkincare
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies27 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches720

Used in

Serums 11.8%Face Cleansers 10.7%General Moisturizers 6.4%Shampoos 5.3%Toners 4.7%Makeup Removers 4.1%

Frequently asked

What does Dehydroacetic Acid do in skincare?
Dehydroacetic Acid functions as a preservative agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Dehydroacetic Acid allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Dehydroacetic Acid?
It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (11.8% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Dehydroacetic Acid

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.