Ingredient decoder

Hydroxycitronellal: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Hydroxycitronellal

Acne verdict Watch

Worth watching on acne-prone skin

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Scent ingredient that can cause allergic reactions in some people.

  • Perfuming

Hydroxycitronellal in plain English

Hydroxycitronellal is a synthetic lily-of-the-valley scent compound used in fragrances. It is a well-known fragrance sensitizer, which is why the EU limits how much can be used. It is one of the scent components that must be named on EU labels above set levels because it can trigger allergic reactions in some people. For acne-prone skin it does not clog pores, but irritation and redness can make breakouts look and feel worse, so sensitive skin may do better without it.

Is hydroxycitronellal bad for acne?

Not usually, but it is worth watching. Hydroxycitronellal is not a proven pore-clogger, but scent ingredients like this can irritate sensitive skin, and irritated skin can make breakouts look and feel worse. Notice how your skin reacts when a product lists it near the top.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Hydroxycitronellal
  • Citronellal hydrate
  • Laurinal

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Frequently asked questions

Is hydroxycitronellal comedogenic?

Hydroxycitronellal has no published comedogenic rating in Fulton's 1989 table. It is not a proven pore-clogger, but it is worth watching on acne-prone skin.

What does hydroxycitronellal do in skincare?

In short: scent ingredient that can cause allergic reactions in some people. In formulas it is used for perfuming.

What else is hydroxycitronellal called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, hydroxycitronellal can also appear as Citronellal hydrate or Laurinal.

Sources