Ammonium Glycolate
AKA “ammonium hydroxyacetate, 35249-89-9, Acetic acid, hydroxy-, monoammonium salt, Hydroxyacetic acid, ammoniuum salt, 8G1X5P7GIL, GLICONOL L, 2-hydroxy-, ammonium salt (1:1), EC 609-106-7, HYDROXYACETIC ACID AMMONIUM SALT”
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
Ammonium glycolate
AKA: Ammonium hydroxyacetate, 35249-89-9, Acetic acid, Hydroxy-, Monoammonium salt, Hydroxyacetic acid, Ammoniuum salt, 8G1X5P7GIL, GLICONOL L, 2-hydroxy-, Ammonium salt (1:1), EC 609-106-7, HYDROXYACETIC ACID AMMONIUM SALT
Ingredient · Buffering · EWG: 5
Synthetic
Rx Active
Chemical Exfoliant
Not Clean
Acetic acid, hydroxy-, monoammonium salt
Effective at 36.95%
Formula
C2H7NO3
Mol. Weight
93.08
CAS #
35249-89-9
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Buffering
Keratolytic
A pharmaceutical-grade active. These are the heavy hitters — often prescription-strength or regulated for potency.
Supports cell turnover
Unclogs pores
Traditional Use
Developed in the latter 20th century as a salt of glycolic acid, a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Glycolic acid itself was historically derived from sugarcane, but the ammonium salt form is a modern innovation for skincare exfoliation.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Uneven Texture
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
5
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
ewg-5
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Mild Irritant
Concentration Guide
3.89%
70.0%
0%98%
Effective Range
CIR reported use: 7.04-14.29b (70% aq; | pH 3.89-4.01)
Regulatory Agencies
Safety Assessment of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate and Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Safety Assessment of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate and Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid.
Cherian P, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid.
Cherian P, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate and Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Acetic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Ammonium Glycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
dehydroacetic acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Acetic acid and the skin: a review of vinegar in dermatology.
Elhage KG, St Claire K, Daveluy S
International journal of dermatology, 2022
Acetic acid and the skin: a review of vinegar in dermatology.
Elhage KG, St Claire K, Daveluy S
International journal of dermatology, 2022
Acetic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Ammonium Glycolate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
dehydroacetic acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Potential application of novel liquid crystal nanoparticles of isostearyl glyceryl ether for transdermal delivery of 4-biphenyl acetic acid.
Fujii MY, Asakawa Y, Fukami T
International journal of pharmaceutics, 2020
Preparation of (13)C-labeled ceramide by acetic acid bacteria and its incorporation in mice.
Fukami H, Tachimoto H, Kishi M, Kaga T, Waki H et al.
Journal of lipid research, 2010
2,4-Dihydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
4,4'-Dihydroxy-3,3'-(3-methylthiopropylidene) dicoumarin
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Toluidines, their isomers, salts and halogenated and sulfonated derivatives except 4-hydroxy-2-nitro-toluidine and hydroxyethyl-2-nitro-p-toluidine
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Trichloroacetic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Effects of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 and calcipotriol on organotypic cultures of outer root sheath cells: a potential model to evaluate antipsor
Limat A, Hunziker T, Braathen LR
Archives of dermatological research, 1993
Nobiletin and 5-Hydroxy-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone Ameliorate 12- O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-Induced Psoriasis-Like Mouse Skin Lesions by
Yang G, Li S, Yang Y, Yuan L, Wang P et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2018
Nobiletin and 5-Hydroxy-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone Ameliorate 12- O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-Induced Psoriasis-Like Mouse Skin Lesions by
Yang G, Li S, Yang Y, Yuan L, Wang P et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2018
Nobiletin and 5-Hydroxy-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone Ameliorate 12- O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-Induced Psoriasis-Like Mouse Skin Lesions by
Yang G, Li S, Yang Y, Yuan L, Wang P et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2018
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR