Sebacic Acid

Sebacic acid is a saturated dicarboxylic acid, commonly obtained from castor oil, used in cosmetics. It fine-tunes pH, supports formula stability, and modifies texture, while any direct conditioning effect on skin appears limited and not clearly established.
Like this ingredient?

Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
Sebacic acid balances a formula's pH and helps texture stay smooth.
Category
Skin Conditioning
Type
pH Adjuster

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Fair

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Helps keep formulas within a skin-comfortable acidity range for smoother application, though direct skin benefits appear modest based on available data.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Used in moisturizers, serums, and gels to balance pH and refine the texture of the finished product.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

Typically safe at low levels used to adjust pH. May cause transient stinging or irritation on sensitive skin, especially alongside other acids or retinoids. No commonly cited cosmetic regulatory limits.

Is Sebacic Acid a Good Ingredient?

Fair, because it's mainly a pH adjuster with minimal direct skin benefit, so its conditioning performance stays limited. As an acid, it can also cause mild irritation or stinging at lower pH or higher use levels, which keeps it out of Good.

Products with Sebacic Acid

Related Ingredients