Hexyldodecyl Salicylate
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Salicylic acid, 2-hexyldodecyl ester, 220778-06-3, (+-)-HEXYLDODECYL SALICYLATE, HEXYLDODECYL SALICYLATE [INCI], (+/-)-Hexyldodecyl salicylate
Synthetic
Solvent
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Chemical Exfoliant
Not Clean
2-Hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-hexyldodecyl ester
Formula
C25H42O3
Mol. Weight
390.60
CAS #
220778-06-3
Form
Liquid
Functions
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A synthetic ester developed as a fragrance ingredient and mild exfoliant in cosmetics. Created to provide both scent and gentle keratolytic properties in skincare.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
Not an Irritant
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
3.0%
0%4%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 3.0%. (a) 3.0% (b) 2.0%. Not to be used for children under three years of age (11) Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex III (Restricted Substances), Entry 98.
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️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