Ingredient
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant / stabilizer · INCI: Hydroxyacetophenone
Reviewed by Elysiana, licensed esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Hydroxyacetophenone comedogenic?
No. Hydroxyacetophenone isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Hydroxyacetophenone is a small antioxidant molecule used to boost a preservative system and calm irritation. It is water-soluble and used at a fraction of a percent, with nothing in common with the lipids and esters our references flag.
It appears in a lot of gentle, well-formulated products, which is why you keep seeing it. It is doing preservation work, not skin-feel work.
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. Run the whole label and see everything in the product at once.