Sodium Dehydroacetate
Preservative based on the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid. Effective against yeasts and molds, weaker against bacteria. EU 1223/2009 caps it at 0.6% in leave-on products. Since 2023 not recommended for the oral area and children under 3. Pregnancy-safe.
Supporting ingredient
It gives a product its texture, stability or shelf life. It has no claimed effect on the skin, so an efficacy tier does not apply. What is known about its safety is below
Tolerability and safety
- Irritation potential
- Low
- Allergen risk
- Low
- Pregnancy
- Safe
- Suitable for
- Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily, Sensitive
About this ingredient
Sodium Dehydroacetate is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid (3-acetyl-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H)-dione). It is water-soluble and works in neutral formulas at pH 5-7. INCI: Sodium Dehydroacetate. In food, it is listed as E266. In cosmetics it works as a multifunctional preservative. It performs well against yeasts (Candida) and molds (Aspergillus), but is weaker against gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas). It is therefore almost always combined with other preservatives – benzoic acid, potassium sorbate, phenoxyethanol. Use levels are 0.3-0.6%. EU Regulation 1223/2009 caps it at 0.6% (Annex V). Recent EU restrictions (since 2023). After an SCCS review, Sodium Dehydroacetate has been banned since 2023 in oral-area products (lip balms, toothpastes) and in leave-on products for children under 3. There are no restrictions for older age groups and adult leave-on applications. Pregnancy safety. Topical use at standard cosmetic concentrations is safe. Systemic absorption through intact skin is low. No teratogenic effects in the human literature. Skin tolerance. Low irritation and allergen potential at <0.6%. Non-comedogenic. Suitable for sensitive skin. Comparison with parabens. Comparable to methylparaben in yeast/mold efficacy but more widely accepted in clean marketing. It is 2-3 times more expensive than parabens. No standalone cosmetic effects.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sodium Dehydroacetate safe during pregnancy?
Sodium Dehydroacetate is considered safe during pregnancy at typical cosmetic concentrations. Systemic absorption through the skin is minimal.
What skin types is Sodium Dehydroacetate for?
Sodium Dehydroacetate suits: normal, dry, combination, oily, sensitive.
What is Sodium Dehydroacetate and what does it do in cosmetics?
Preservative based on the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid.
Is Sodium Dehydroacetate comedogenic?
On the Fulton scale 0/5 – non-comedogenic. For acne-prone skin, a rating of 3 or higher suggests choosing an alternative.
What's the INCI name for Sodium Dehydroacetate?
The INCI name is Sodium Dehydroacetate. It may also appear as: Dehydroacetic Acid Sodium Salt.
See Sodium Dehydroacetate in a product composition right on the store page
The Evigrade extension adds an evidence panel to iHerb, Sephora, Druni and 12 more stores. This ingredient and every other one in the product show evidence-tier, allergen risk and pregnancy/lactation flags at a glance.
Similar role in the formula
Published: · updated: