BENZOYL PEROXIDE
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 3237
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
BENZOYL PEROXIDE: Allowed with restrictions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex III, entry 94), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Good to know: classified as a sensitiser (skin allergy); hazardous to the aquatic environment. Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 23 October 2026.
Who it concerns
What official classifications and rules say for each group. A classification describes the hazard of the pure substance, not the risk of a product that contains it, which depends on the dose and the exposure.
Prohibition or serious classificationThe text prohibits the substance for this use, or ranks it among the most serious hazards (known or presumed carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic, identified endocrine disruptor).Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No classification harmonised by the European Union covers reproduction, the unborn child or breastfeeding for this substance. This does not mean it has been judged to have no effect during pregnancy.
Babies and children
The Cosmetics Regulation sets no age-related condition for this ingredient.
Skin, eyes and allergies
Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.
Worth watching Classified under the CLPEU regulation that classifies chemicals by their hazards (EC No 1272/2008). Regulation: eye irritation, category 2 (Eye Irrit. 2); skin sensitisation, category 1 (Skin Sens. 1).
Environment
Worth watchingThe text sets a condition or flags a hazard worth knowing: allergen, suspected effect, condition for children, hazard to the aquatic environment.
Worth watching Classified under the CLP Regulation: hazardous to the aquatic environment, short term, category 1 (Aquatic Acute 1); hazardous to the aquatic environment, long term, category 1 (Aquatic Chronic 1).
Read on the label
For informationOfficial information with no condition on a finished product: warning to read, irritation of the pure substance.
For information Annex III, entry 94, requires this to be printed on the pack: “For professional use only Avoid skin contact Read directions for use carefully”.
Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Oxidising: changes the chemical nature of another substance by adding oxygen or removing hydrogen.
Functions declared in the CosIngThe European Commission's database of cosmetic ingredients. inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Definitions of functions (decision repealed on 8 May 2020, cited for information). Decision 2006/257/EC, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (definitions of functions), retrieved 22 October 2026.
What the rules say
Allowed, with restrictions: Annex III sets a maximum concentration, the product types allowed and a warning to be printed on the packaging. Ingredient lists do not give quantities, so the concentration cannot be checked on the label; the warning can.
CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
The text of the annexes
Allowed with restrictions
- Product type
- Artificial nail systems
- Maximum concentration
- 0.7% (after mixing for use)
- Other conditions
- Professional use
- Warning to print
- For professional use only Avoid skin contact Read directions for use carefully
- Entry
- Annex III, No 94
- Substance
- Dibenzoyl peroxide
- Glossary names
- BENZOYL PEROXIDE
- CAS
- 94-36-0
- EC
- 202-327-6
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III, entry 94. CosIng, Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (restricted substances), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 13 October 2026.
Entry from Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, adopted on 30 November 2009.
SCCSEU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: it assesses cosmetic ingredients. opinions cited: Opinion on The Use of Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO), Hydroquinone (HQ), Hydroquinone methylether (MEHQ) in artificial nail systems.
What has changed, and what will change
Dates of the texts that cover this ingredient. A text date may cover several substances: the details of each entry are below.
Annex III, entry 94: introduced or replaced by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
Annex III, entry 94: applies from this date
CLP classification “Org. Perox. B” applicable at the latest from this date (Regulation (EU) 2024/2564)
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 41528
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 94-36-0
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 202-327-6
- Declared functions
- Oxidising
- Wikidata
- Q411424
- PubChem
- 7187
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.002.116
- InChIKey
- OMPJBNCRMGITSC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
CosIng inventory. CosIng, inventory of cosmetic ingredients (INCI names, CAS, EC, functions), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Wikidata, items with a CosIng identifier (P3073), retrieved 22 October 2026.
Wikidata, PubChem and ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency. links are published only when verified: same CosIng identifier, a single item, matching CAS number.
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
The harmonised classification is the one set by the European Union for the whole Union. H codes refer to the hazard statements of Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
dibenzoyl peroxide; benzoyl peroxide
Neither carcinogenic, mutagenic nor toxic for reproduction under the harmonised classification
- Hazard classes
- Organic peroxide, category B (Org. Perox. B)
Eye irritation, category 2 (Eye Irrit. 2)
Skin sensitisation, category 1 (Skin Sens. 1)
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, short term, category 1 (Aquatic Acute 1)
Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long term, category 1 (Aquatic Chronic 1) - Hazard statements
- H241 H319 H317 H400 H410
Annex VI, entry 617-008-00-0, linked by CAS 94-36-0. Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP), consolidated version, Annex VI table 3, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Entry introduced or replaced by Regulation (EU) 2024/2564, applicable at the latest from 1 May 2026.
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
2 alerts on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself. Under each alert, its reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on), as published.
- 2 October 2026: Acrylic powder, CLEAR, Lithuania (“Serious risk”) alert
The acrylic powder contains an excessive amount of dibenzoyl peroxide. This chemical is skin sensitizing and an eye irritant The product does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation. - 12 December 2025: Nail gel, NailsUp, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
The product has an excessive concentration of benzoyl peroxide (measured value: up to 0.7 %). Benzoyl peroxide can cause severe eye irritation and allergic skin reactions. Moreover, there is no indication that the product is a cosmetic product for…
Safety Gate, EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products: cosmetic alerts from the weekly reports, retrieved 23 October 2026.
Source: European Commission, Safety GateEU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products. weekly reports (CC0).
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.
Comparison between countries
Most restrictive status in each country, and the maximum concentration cited. The details and the source of each rule follow.
| Country | Rule | Maximum concentration cited |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | Allowed with restrictions | 0.7% |
| United Kingdom | Allowed with restrictions | 0.7% |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | 0.7% |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | Prohibited differs from the EU | not cited |
| China | Prohibited differs from the EU | not cited |
| Australia | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Brazil | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
Same entries as in the European Union. Their maximum concentrations are compared in the “Comparison between countries” table; other conditions (product types, warnings) may differ.
Annexes II to VI in force. United Kingdom, Annexes II to VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as retained and amended, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Northern Ireland applies EU law.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
Switzerland, FDHA Ordinance on Cosmetic Products (OCos, SR 817.023.31), consolidated version, retrieved 22 October 2026.
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
United States, 21 CFR part 700 and section 250.250 (FDA rules on cosmetic ingredients), eCFR, retrieved 21 October 2026.
The eCFR is not an official legal edition of the Code of Federal Regulations.
South Korea
- Prohibited: 벤조일퍼옥사이드 (BENZOYL PEROXIDE)
별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 348, page 19.
South Korea, MFDS Regulation on Safety Standards for Cosmetics, Notification 2026-19, retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: 식품의약품안전처 (MFDS), 화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정, via law.go.kr; table formatted by the publisher of this site.
China
- Prohibited: 过氧苯甲酰 (Benzoyl peroxide （CAS No. 94-36-0）)
表1 化妆品禁用原料目录 (prohibited substances, 2021年第74号), entry 1283, page 附件2 (.doc) table row 1283 ; TID reprint p.48.
China, NMPA catalogues of prohibited cosmetic ingredients (2021 No. 74, revised up to 2026), retrieved 22 October 2026.
Source: 国家药品监督管理局 (NMPA); plant catalogue as reprinted by the Trade and Industry Department of Hong Kong; table formatted by the publisher of this site.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
1 recorded product list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (in French).
Open Beauty Facts, export of cosmetic products, retrieved 23 October 2026.
Data “Open Beauty Facts and its contributors”, licensed under ODbL 1.0 (opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0); derived table distributed under the same licence.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 23 October 2026.