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Glycyrrhetinic Acid

What Glycyrrhetinic Acid is & what it does

A licorice-derived compound that soothes the look of redness and supports the barrier. It is gentle and often used in calming formulas.

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

Glycyrrhetinic Acid is a licorice-derived compound used as a soothing ingredient. It helps calm the look of redness and supports the skin barrier, which is why it shows up in gentle and after-sun style formulas. In a sunscreen it is a supporting, skin-conditioning addition rather than something that contributes to UV protection.

Is Glycyrrhetinic Acid safe?

Yes. It is a long-used, licorice-derived ingredient considered gentle and well tolerated in cosmetic formulas. It is most often found in calming products aimed at sensitive skin. There are no notable safety concerns at the levels used in skincare.

Does Glycyrrhetinic Acid clog pores?

Generally no. It is used in small amounts as a soothing active, not as a heavy emollient or oil, so it is not regarded as a pore-clogging ingredient. It is commonly chosen for sensitive and reactive skin. Breakouts are far more likely to come from richer oils or waxes elsewhere in a formula.

Is Glycyrrhetinic Acid an acid that exfoliates?

No. Despite the word acid in its name, it does not exfoliate like an AHA or BHA. Glycyrrhetinic Acid is a soothing, barrier-supporting compound from licorice, and it does not change skin pH or slough off dead cells. The name simply reflects its chemistry, not its function.

What else is Glycyrrhetinic Acid called?

On a label it appears as Glycyrrhetinic Acid, its INCI name. It is sometimes written as 18-beta-glycyrrhetinic acid or referred to as enoxolone. It is derived from licorice root, so products may describe it as a licorice extract component.

Sunscreens with Glycyrrhetinic Acid

We rate 117 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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