The zinc salt of acetic acid, used in oral care and skin care, regulated in Annex III.
What it is
Zinc acetate is the zinc salt of acetic acid, a water-soluble white solid. CosIng lists it as an antimicrobial, astringent, oral care and skin-protecting ingredient. In the EU it is covered by an entry in Annex III (substances subject to restrictions) for water-soluble zinc salts.
Where it is used
Found in a small number of products, such as toothpastes, mouthwashes and skin care products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
See the EU regulation section for the applicable limits; according to the Annex III entry, they differ for toothpaste, mouthwash and other products.
Functions
- Antimicrobial
- Preventing and/or slowing down microbial growth.
- Astringent
- Contracting and/or tightening the skin.
- Oral care
- Providing cosmetic effects to the oral cavity, e.g. cleansing, deodorising, protecting.
- Skin protecting
- Helping to avoid harmful effects to the skin from external factors.
EU regulation
- Product type
- (a) Toothpaste intended for users above 1 year of age (b) Toothpaste intended for children between 6 months and 1 year of age (c) Mouthwash intended for users above 6 years of age (d) Other products
- Maximum concentration
- (a) 1 % (as zinc) (b) 0,72 % (as zinc) (c) 0,1 % (as zinc) (d) 1 % (as zinc)
- As of
- 3 November 2026 · (EU) 2026/909