Characteristics
- INCI
- Dehydroacetic Acid
- Ru.
- Geogard 111A
- CAS
-
520-45-6, 771-03-9, 16807-48-0
This is the substance number in the Chemical Abstracts Service registry. The CAS number uniquely identifies a substance regardless of language, trade name, or synonyms.
- EC
-
208-293-9, 212-227-4
This is the substance number in the European chemical identification system (EC number), used in European regulatory databases including ECHA/CosIng.
- IUPAC
- 3-Acetyl-6-Methyl-2H-Pyran-2,4(3H)-Dione
- Functions
- preservative
- EU Restr.
-
V/13
EU regulatory status: restricted use. The ingredient is permitted in EU cosmetics but its use and labelling are regulated.
More detail →
Description
If a formula needs to stay fresh without getting too dramatic about it, this ingredient is one of the quieter heroes. Dehydroacetic Acid is a preservative, meaning its job is to stop microbes from turning your nice cream or serum into a science experiment. It is especially good against fungi and yeast, with a more modest effect on bacteria, so it often gets paired with other preservatives to build a broader safety net.
From a chemistry point of view, it is a synthetic ingredient, but one that is widely accepted in “natural-style” formulations and is allowed by Ecocert and Cosmos. In practice, that makes it a popular choice in products that want to keep a gentler, more minimalist image while still being protected against spoilage. It is also considered useful at low concentrations, typically around 0.1–0.6%, which is pretty efficient for something whose main job is basically “please do not let the formula go bad.”
Compared with some stronger preservative systems, dehydroacetic acid is usually seen as a milder, more cosmetic-friendly option, but that also means it is rarely a one-ingredient solution for everything. It tends to work best in properly formulated products with the right pH and with supporting ingredients that cover its weaker spots. In other words, it is less of a lone superhero and more of a dependable team player.
For your skin, the good news is that preservatives are there to protect you too. A spoiled product can mean irritation or infection risk, and that is obviously not the vibe. Dehydroacetic acid helps keep formulas stable and safer to use over time, which is why you will often find it in creams, lotions, and other leave-on products that need a little extra backup without a heavy preservative feel.
More detail
A helper ingredient that helps to make the products stay nice longer, aka preservative. It works mainly against fungi and has only milder effect against bacteria.
It is Ecocert and Cosmos approved, works quite well at low concentrations (0.1-0.6%) and is popular in natural products.
Products with Dehydroacetic Acid (7 336 total)
Most often found in Natura Siberica products (127 items)
