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Hydroxyacetophenone

What Hydroxyacetophenone is & what it does

A preservative booster and antioxidant that strengthens the overall preservative system while helping calm the look of irritation. It is gentle and multifunctional.

What is Hydroxyacetophenone and what does it do in sunscreen?

Hydroxyacetophenone is a multitasking antioxidant and preservative booster. In a sunscreen it strengthens the overall preservative system, so less of the main preservative is needed, while also acting as an antioxidant that helps calm the look of irritation. It is gentle and works at low levels.

Is Hydroxyacetophenone safe?

Yes. It is considered safe and is generally well tolerated at the low levels used in skincare. It is valued precisely because it is mild, which lets formulators rely less on stronger preservatives.

Does Hydroxyacetophenone clog pores?

No. It is used in very small amounts as an antioxidant and preservative booster, not as an oil or emollient, so it is not considered pore-clogging. It is unlikely to be the cause of breakouts.

Is Hydroxyacetophenone a preservative?

Not exactly. Hydroxyacetophenone is mainly an antioxidant and a preservative booster: it supports and stabilises the preservative system rather than doing the preserving on its own. You will often see it paired with a main preservative, which it helps work more efficiently.

Is Hydroxyacetophenone natural?

It is synthetic. Hydroxyacetophenone is made in the lab for purity and consistency, even though related compounds occur in nature. Natural or not, it does the same job of boosting the preservative system and adding antioxidant support.

Sunscreens with Hydroxyacetophenone

We rate 775 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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