Good Preservative NOAEL Data SCCS/CIR Reviewed

Hydroxyacetophenone

INCI: HYDROXYACETOPHENONE

CAS Number
99-93-4
Function
Preservative Booster, Antimicrobial, Skin Conditioning, Antioxidant
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted in OTC cosmetics; no specific FDA concentration limits; used as multifunctional preservative booster in hurdle technology systems; MoCRA 2026 compliance required

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

2 study endpoints found for Hydroxyacetophenone. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.

Endpoint Value Route Species Study Type Source
NOAEL 45 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL ca.600 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH

Safety Opinions

Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).

cir October 11, 2022
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 600 mg/kg bw/d (not specified)

ulations, and concluded that Hydroxyacetophenone is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. INTRODUCTION This assessment reviews the safety of Hydroxyacetophenone as used in cosmetic formulations. According to the web- base

cir October 11, 2022
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 600 mg/kg bw/d (oral)

ulations, and concluded that Hydroxyacetophenone is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. INTRODUCTION This assessment reviews the safety of Hydroxyacetophenone as used in cosmetic formulations. According to the web- base

cir October 11, 2022
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 600 mg/kg bw/d (inhalation)

ulations, and concluded that Hydroxyacetophenone is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. INTRODUCTION This assessment reviews the safety of Hydroxyacetophenone as used in cosmetic formulations. According to the web- base

cir October 11, 2022
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 45 mg/kg bw/d (oral)

ulations, and concluded that Hydroxyacetophenone is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. INTRODUCTION This assessment reviews the safety of Hydroxyacetophenone as used in cosmetic formulations. According to the web- base

cir October 11, 2022
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 600 mg/kg bw (oral)

ulations, and concluded that Hydroxyacetophenone is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. INTRODUCTION This assessment reviews the safety of Hydroxyacetophenone as used in cosmetic formulations. According to the web- base

Expert Verdict

Hydroxyacetophenone is a key component of scientifically validated preservative combinations that selectively inhibit pathogenic bacteria while preserving beneficial skin commensals, making it a strong candidate for microbiome-certified and sensitive skin formulations.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

preservative-booster microbiome-friendly eubiosis-preserving selective-antimicrobial s-epidermidis-sparing s-aureus-inhibition c-acnes-moderate-inhibition hurdle-technology best-performing-combo epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hydroxyacetophenone safe in cosmetics?

Hydroxyacetophenone is a key component of scientifically validated preservative combinations that selectively inhibit pathogenic bacteria while preserving beneficial skin commensals, making it a strong candidate for microbiome-certified and sensitive skin formulations. The EU classifies Hydroxyacetophenone as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD. 2 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.

Is Hydroxyacetophenone allowed in the EU?

Hydroxyacetophenone EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Hydroxyacetophenone do in cosmetics?

Hydroxyacetophenone functions as: Preservative Booster, Antimicrobial, Skin Conditioning, Antioxidant. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 99-93-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for Hydroxyacetophenone?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

What is the NOAEL for Hydroxyacetophenone?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Hydroxyacetophenone is 45 mg/kg bw/day based on a oral study via oral route in rat. A total of 2 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

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