levulinic acid
AKA “4-Oxopentanoic acid, 123-76-2, Laevulinic acid, Pentanoic acid, 4-oxo-, 4-Oxovaleric acid, Levulic acid, 4-Ketovaleric acid, gamma-Ketovaleric acid, LEVA”
Acid
Ingredient Facts
Levulinic acid
AKA: 4-Oxopentanoic acid, 123-76-2, Laevulinic acid, Pentanoic acid, 4-oxo-, 4-Oxovaleric acid, Levulic acid, 4-Ketovaleric acid, Gamma-Ketovaleric acid, LEVA
Acid · Perfuming · EWG: 1
Plant-Derived Synthetic
Fragrance
Skin Conditioner
Acid
Clean
4-oxopentanoic acid is an oxopentanoic acid with the oxo group in the 4-position. It has a role as a plant metabolite. It is an oxopentanoic acid and a straight-chain saturated fatty acid. It is a conjugate acid of a 4-oxopentanoate.
Solubility soluble in water, alcohol, and oil
Formula
C5H8O3
Mol. Weight
116.11
CAS #
123-76-2
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Perfuming
Added for scent. Can be natural or synthetic. Common irritant and allergen — one of the top reasons people react to products.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A organic acid developed in the 20th century as part of modern cosmetic chemistry. Used in contemporary skincare formulations for exfoliation and pH adjustment, synthesized from cellulose-derived compounds.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
Dullness
Botanical D Moisture Mist
One Love Organics
Botanical D Moisture Mist - 3 Pack
One Love Organics
[Travel Size] Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser (20mL)
Grown Alchemist
[Travel Size] Restorative Hand Cream (20ml)
Grown Alchemist
Regenerating Face Moisturizer (60ml)
Grown Alchemist
Rich Restorative Hand Cream (65mL)
Grown Alchemist
Skin Renewal Serum (25mL)
Grown Alchemist
Soothing Hand Cream (65mL)
Grown Alchemist
Instant Smoothing Hyaluronic Serum (25mL)
Grown Alchemist
Power Duo
Grown Alchemist
[Travel Size] Skin Renewal Serum (5mL)
Grown Alchemist
Smooth + Sculpt Set
Grown Alchemist
Restorative Hand Cream + Lip Balm Duo
Grown Alchemist
Restorative Hand Cream (65mL)
Grown Alchemist
Essential Face Wipes
Ursa Major
Essential Face Tonic
Ursa Major
Hydra-Restore Day Cream
Credo Beauty
Polishing Exfoliator
Credo Beauty
Skin Renewal Serum
Credo Beauty
Restorative Hand Cream
Credo Beauty
Ethylhexylglycerin: a low-risk, but highly relevant, sensitizer in 'hypo-allergenic' cosmetics.
Aerts O, Verhulst L, Goossens A
Contact dermatitis, 2016
Safety Assessment of Levulinic Acid and Sodium Levulinate as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Levan
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
levulinic acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Formaldehyde-releasers in cosmetics: relationship to formaldehyde contact allergy. Part 1. Characterization, frequency and relevance of sensitization,
de Groot AC, White IR, Flyvholm MA, Lensen G, Coenraads PJ
Contact dermatitis, 2010
levulinic acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Comprehensive Characterization of Secondary Metabolites i...
Anna V Faleva, Nikolay V Ul'yanovskii, Aleksandra A Onuchina, Danil I Falev, Dmitry S Kosyakov
Metabolites, 2023
Physicochemical and safety evaluation of 5-aminolevulinic acid in novel liposomes as carrier for skin delivery.
Fang YP, Wu PC, Tsai YH, Huang YB
Journal of liposome research, 2008
Physicochemical and safety evaluation of 5-aminolevulinic acid in novel liposomes as carrier for skin delivery.
Fang YP, Wu PC, Tsai YH, Huang YB
Journal of liposome research, 2008
Hygienic relevance and risk assessment of antimicrobial-impregnated textiles.
Kramer A, Guggenbichler P, Heldt P, Jünger M, Ladwig A et al.
Current problems in dermatology, 2006
Hygienic relevance and risk assessment of antimicrobial-impregnated textiles.
Kramer A, Guggenbichler P, Heldt P, Jünger M, Ladwig A et al.
Current problems in dermatology, 2006
Rose Flowers-A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S, Zaharieva MM et al.
Biomolecules, 2021
Rose Flowers-A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S, Zaharieva MM et al.
Biomolecules, 2021
Rose Flowers-A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S, Zaharieva MM et al.
Biomolecules, 2021
Rose Flowers-A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S, Zaharieva MM et al.
Biomolecules, 2021
Rose Flowers-A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S, Zaharieva MM et al.
Biomolecules, 2021
Rose Flowers-A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S, Zaharieva MM et al.
Biomolecules, 2021
Rose Flowers-A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S, Zaharieva MM et al.
Biomolecules, 2021
Rose Flowers-A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?
Mileva M, Ilieva Y, Jovtchev G, Gateva S, Zaharieva MM et al.
Biomolecules, 2021
Safety Assessment of Levulinic Acid and Sodium Levulinate as Used in Cosmetics.
Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
Palmoplantar Pustulosis as an Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease with a Possible Relevance of Th17 Cell Plasticity: A Narrative Review.
Terui T, Murakami M, Okubo Y, Hayama K, Fujita H
Dermatology and therapy, 2025
Oil components modulate the skin delivery of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its ester prodrug from oil-in-water and water-in-oil nanoemulsions.
Zhang LW, Al-Suwayeh SA, Hung CF, Chen CC, Fang JY
International journal of nanomedicine, 2011
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR