Hexylresorcinol

Hexylresorcinol is a cosmetic ingredient used as an antimicrobial agent. It is used in 126 products in our dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 17 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameHEXYLRESORCINOL
FunctionANTIMICROBIAL
CAS number136-77-6
EC number205-257-4
Prevalence126 products (0.14% of dataset)
Most used inSkincare
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies17 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches5,400

Used in

Serums 42.1%Facial Treatments 15.9%General Moisturizers 7.1%Night Moisturizers 6.3%Sunscreens 5.6%Eye Moisturizers 4%

Frequently asked

What does Hexylresorcinol do in skincare?
Hexylresorcinol functions as an antimicrobial agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Hexylresorcinol allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Hexylresorcinol?
It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (42.1% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Hexylresorcinol

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