CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID

📋 Quick facts

Description: CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID — preservative booster, chelating agent.

All Functions: preservative booster, chelating agent

Quick Facts:

• Category: preservative

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Caprylhydroxamic acid is a chelating agent used in cosmetics, often as a preservative
• It has been identified as a contact allergen that can cause allergic contact dermatitis in some users
• Sensitization risk appears higher when the ingredient contacts damaged skin
• A 2025 safety panel concluded it is safe in cosmetics at current use levels, but with cautions about application to compromised skin

⚗️ Chemical Overview

used as ruminal urease inhibitor; structure; RN given refers to unlabeled parent cpd

Source(s): Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Caprylhydroxamic acid is a chelating agent—meaning it binds to metal ions in formulations, which helps preserve products and prevent spoilage (Int J Toxicol, 2025). It’s often used as part of preservative systems in moisturizers and other skincare products. However, the safety picture is nuanced. #1: In 2016, dermatologists in Finland identified caprylhydroxamic acid as a previously unknown contact allergen after an epidemic of allergic contact dermatitis occurred in patients using reformulated Apobase® moisturizers that contained this ingredient (Contact Dermatitis, 2017). Patch testing confirmed that caprylhydroxamic acid and its potassium salt caused positive allergic reactions in 39 patients, while the old formula without this ingredient did not trigger reactions.

#2: A 2025 expert panel reviewing cosmetic ingredient safety noted that positive sensitization cases appeared to correlate with use on damaged or compromised skin, and cautioned against formulations that would increase the ingredient’s penetration into skin (Int J Toxicol, 2025). #3: Despite these sensitization reports, the 2025 safety panel concluded that caprylhydroxamic acid is safe in cosmetics at the concentrations and use practices currently described, based on a quantitative risk assessment (Int J Toxicol, 2025). The research sources do not fully explain why some individuals develop allergies while others do not, or whether other ingredients in formulations influence sensitization risk.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Fiume MM et al. (2025). Safety Assessment of Caprylhydroxamic Acid as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol.
• Ackermann L et al. (2017). An epidemic of allergic contact dermatitis caused by a new allergen, caprylhydroxamic acid, in moisturizers. Contact Dermatitis.
• Theret V et al. (2025). Caprylhydroxamic Acid: A Growing Allergen in Skincare Products. Contact Dermatitis.

🧴 Products Containing CAPRYLHYDROXAMIC ACID

• piz buin
• Sun Dance, Sundance Sonnenmilch 30 (hoch)
• cien sun Cien sun kid sensitive sun cream 50SPF
• Sundance,dm Sundance Kids 50 Sonnenmilch
• Sundance Sonnenfluid matt LSF 30
• Sun Dance, Sundance Sonnenfluid sensitiv LSF 50+
• Sun Ozon Sonnenmilch
• Sun Dance, Sundance sun dance 50+ Sonnenmilch
• Alès groupe, Laboratoires Liérac, Liérac, Liérac Paris, Magnificence Magnificence nuit gel-en-baume lissant détoxifiant rides – fermeté – éclat
• aloedermal solar
• Shea moisture jamais annoncé black castor oil
• Biafine SoleilBiafine Lait Spray Solaire Enfant Triple Résistance
• Sun Ozon Sunclean Sonnenmilch LSF 30
• Cosmia Soin des lèvres hydratant
• Nu Skin Nutricentials, day dream protective cream
• MITCH® CLEAN CUT®
• hemp lotion
• Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance Free Miracle Face Cream
• e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser
• Perricone MD Hypoallergenic CBD Sensitive Skin Therapy Gentle Cleanser
• Dermalogica Travel Size Special Cleansing Gel
• Briogeo Shampooing revigorant et ultra nourrissant au matcha et à la pomme
• SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Conditioner
• Murad Prebiotic 4-In-1 MultiCleanser
• Honest Sensitive Shampoo + Body Wash
• Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream
• Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser
• It Cosmetics Confidence In A Cream Anti-Aging Moisturizer
• Honest Shampoo + Body Wash
• Hello Bello Premium Shampoo & Body Wash
• Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
• Cremo Face Moisturizer
• ARCONA White Tea Purifying Cleanser
• SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Conditioner
• Lovozon, Müller Med Sonnenbalsam 50+
• LSF 20 Sonnenmilch
• Major Minerin Crème
• Laboratoire MARQUE VERTE Crème mains Dermasens 0% – Laboratoire MARQUE VERTE
• Les Délices, Nocibé Les Délices Barbe à papa lait exfoliant pour le corps
• AYZ AYZ ooglid crème