HEMA Acetoacetate

AKA: 2-(Methacryloyloxy)ethyl acetoacetate, Eastman AAEM, 2-(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate, LONZAMON AAEMA, 2-((2-Methyl-1-oxoallyl)oxy)ethyl acetoacetate
Synthetic
Occlusive
Not Clean
Butanoic acid, 3-Oxo-, 2-[(2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propenyl)oxy]ethyl ester
Effective at 45.0%
Formula
C10H14O5
Mol. Weight
214.21
CAS #
21282-97-3
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
Functions
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Creates Protective Barrier
Traditional Use
A modified version of HEMA developed in the late 20th century for specialized cosmetic applications. This synthetic ingredient was created to enhance film-forming and binding properties in personal care formulations.
EWG
5
CIR
Reviewed by CIR
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
11.0%
79.0%
0%100%
Reported use
CIR reported use: .11-79
Regulatory Status
USAunder review
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper
⚖️Regulatory1 listing
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR