Ingredient glossary
4-Hydroxyacetophenone
On your shelf ✓What 4-Hydroxyacetophenone does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Hydroxyacetophenone · Also: p-Hydroxyacetophenone
In short: 4-Hydroxyacetophenone delivers antioxidant and preservation, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is limited.
- What it does
- Antioxidant, preservation
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Evidence
- Limited
The molecule
The Glow take
Quiet, essential, and nothing to fear.
4-Hydroxyacetophenone keeps a product safe to use from the first pump to the last, at tiny amounts. Not something you pay a premium for.
— Maya
What it does
- antioxidant
- preservation
- soothing
limited evidenceDirect evidence is one preclinical paper: it inhibited tyrosinase and reduced melanin in cell, zebrafish and human skin model work, with a four week pigment endpoint at 2%. The antioxidant, soothing and preservative boosting roles are formulation rationale and are not sourced here. No human efficacy trial was found.
On a label: typically under 1%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- all
- sensitive
Approach with care
No specific group flagged to avoid it.
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveSuits
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- antioxidants
- humectants
4-Hydroxyacetophenone, answered
Is 4-Hydroxyacetophenone safe during pregnancy?
Yes. 4-Hydroxyacetophenone is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid 4-Hydroxyacetophenone?
No specific group is flagged to avoid 4-Hydroxyacetophenone. It is well tolerated by most skin. Still, introduce anything new one product at a time.
What concentration of 4-Hydroxyacetophenone actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.
Sources & how we reviewed this
- PMID 40821508abstract only, the full text is paywalled