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Ethyl Glycolate
AKA “Ethyl hydroxyacetate, Ethyl glycollate, Hydroxyacetic acid ethyl ester, GLYCOLIC ACID, ETHYL ESTER, Acetic acid, ethyl ester, NSC 8835”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Ethyl glycolate
AKA: Ethyl hydroxyacetate, Ethyl glycollate, Hydroxyacetic acid ethyl ester, GLYCOLIC ACID, ETHYL ESTER, Acetic acid, Ethyl ester, NSC 8835
Synthetic · Humectant · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Humectant
Solvent
Chemical Exfoliant
Synthetic
Clean
A gentle exfoliating ingredient that helps remove dead skin cells while keeping skin hydrated and smooth.
Formula
C4H8O3
Mol. Weight
104.10
CAS #
107-21-1
Form
Powder
State
Clear colorless liquid; [Acros Organics MSDS]
See origin →
Functions
Humectant
A moisture magnet. Pulls water from the air and deeper skin layers up to the surface to keep skin plump and hydrated.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Thickener
Shields from UV damage
Traditional Use
Developed as a synthetic hydroxy acid in the late 20th century. Became popular in skincare products during the 1980s-1990s as a gentler alternative to glycolic acid for gentle exfoliation and skin renewal.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Uneven Texture
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
4
CIR
Safe w/Qualifications
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Phototoxicity Concern
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, pentanedioic acid, 1,5-dimethyl ester, CAS Registry Number 1119-40-0.
Api AM, Belsito D, Botelho D, Browne D, Bruze M et al.
Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 2018
→
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
→
HPLC determination of thioglycolic acid and other aliphatic thiols in cosmetic formulations using ethacrynic acid as precolumn derivatization reagent.
Cavrini V, Andrisano V, Gatti R, Scapini G
International journal of cosmetic science, 1990
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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 Ammonium and Glyceryl Thioglycolates and Thioglycolic Acid
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer and Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Glycolic Acid, Ammonium, Calcium, Potassium, and Sodium Glycolates, Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl, and Butyl Glycolates, and Lactic Acid, Ammonium, Calcium, Potassium,
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
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)
→
Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
dehydroacetic acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Glycolic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Potassium Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Silybum marianum ethyl ester
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Thioglycolic 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
→
dehydroacetic acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Ethyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Glycolic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Thioglycolic 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
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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
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Detection of fatty acid ethyl esters in skin surface lipids as biomarkers of ethanol consumption in alcoholics, social drinkers, light drinkers, and t
González-Illán F, Ojeda-Torres G, Díaz-Vázquez LM, Rosario O
Journal of analytical toxicology, 2011
→
3-Imidazol-4-ylacrylic acid and its ethyl ester
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Glycolic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Thioglycolic acid and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Thioglycolic acid esters
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Trichloroacetic acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Synthesis of mixed esters of ascorbic acid using methyl esters of palm and soybean oils.
Hsieh HJ, Chen JW, Giridhar R, Wu WT
Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology, 2005
→
RALGA (Diacneal), a retinaldehyde and glycolic acid assoc...
A D Katsambas
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 2005
→
The use of glycolic acid as a peeling agent.
H Murad, A T Shamban, P S Premo
Dermatologic clinics, 1995
→
Pd/C-Catalyzed Efficient and Selective Synthesis of Glycolic Acid from Ethylene Glycol.
Schmoll A, Huo YW, Shao S, Wu XF
ChemSusChem, 2025
→
Examination on biological activities and fates of new steroids, steroid-17-yl methyl glycolate derivatives.
Suzuki T, Tada H, Sato E, Tojima Y
The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, 1999
→
Chitosan-Glycolic Acid Gel Modification of Chloride Ion T...
Olga Zavyalova, Dominika Dąbrowska-Wisłocka, Konrad Misiura, Iga Hołyńska-Iwan
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2023
→
Chitosan-Glycolic Acid Gel Modification of Chloride Ion T...
Olga Zavyalova, Dominika Dąbrowska-Wisłocka, Konrad Misiura, Iga Hołyńska-Iwan
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2023
→
Chitosan-Glycolic Acid Gel Modification of Chloride Ion T...
Olga Zavyalova, Dominika Dąbrowska-Wisłocka, Konrad Misiura, Iga Hołyńska-Iwan
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2023
→
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR