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Dehydroacetic Acid

What Dehydroacetic Acid is & what it does

A broad-spectrum preservative effective against mold, yeast, and bacteria, often used in natural-leaning systems. It works best in slightly acidic formulas.

What is Dehydroacetic Acid and what does it do in sunscreen?

Dehydroacetic Acid is a preservative. Its job in a sunscreen is to keep the product free of mold, yeast, and bacteria so it stays safe to use over its shelf life. It is a popular choice in natural-leaning formulas, and it works best in slightly acidic systems.

Is Dehydroacetic Acid safe?

Yes. It is a widely used cosmetic preservative considered safe at the low levels permitted in skincare. Like any preservative it is there to do an active job, killing microbes, so a small number of people with very reactive skin can find it mildly irritating, but for most people it is well tolerated.

Is Dehydroacetic Acid a preservative?

Yes. It is a true preservative, not a UV filter or active. It protects the formula against mold, yeast, and bacteria, which matters because a sunscreen is opened and dipped into many times over its life. It is often paired with another preservative such as benzyl alcohol to cover the full microbial range.

Does Dehydroacetic Acid clog pores?

Generally no. It is a water-phase preservative used in tiny amounts, not a heavy oil or wax, so it is not a typical pore-clogging ingredient. If a sunscreen is breaking you out, the richer emollients elsewhere in the formula are a far more likely cause.

What is Dehydroacetic Acid on an ingredient list (INCI)?

"Dehydroacetic Acid" is the INCI name printed on the label, and you will usually find it low on the list near the other preservatives. You may also see the closely related salt form, Sodium Dehydroacetate, used for the same purpose. Either way it is there to keep the product fresh, not to affect how the sunscreen feels on skin.

Sunscreens with Dehydroacetic Acid

We rate 256 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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