Compoatlas

C16-23 ALKANE

Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 4625

C16-23 ALKANE: Prohibited above an impurity threshold (Annex II, entry 779), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

In plain words

What it is used for

Functions declared by manufacturers:

Emollient (skin conditioning): softens and smooths the skin.

Skin conditioning: maintains the skin in good condition.

What the rules say

Prohibited only if the substance contains more than 3% (w/w) DMSO extract. This content does not appear on an ingredient list.

Hazard and risk

The CLP Regulation classifies this substance as carcinogenic, category 1B (presumed effect, established mainly from animal studies).

This classification describes what the substance can cause (a hazard), not what happens when using a product (a risk): the risk depends on the dose, the form and the route of exposure (skin, inhalation, ingestion).

The CMR classification does not apply if the substance meets an impurity limit (CLP note L, for example less than 0.1% butadiene for butane): this cannot be checked on an ingredient list.

The text of the annexes

Prohibited above an impurity threshold

CosIng links the name C16-23 ALKANE to this entry. The cases of prohibition are explained above, in “In plain words”; the official title is given below.

Entry
Annex II, No 779
Substance
Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light paraffinic, if they contain > 3 % w/w DMSO extract
CAS
64742-55-8
EC
265-158-7
CMR
Carcinogenic Cat. 1B()
Dates in the act (10)
  • Entry into force on 11 January 2010
  • Application from 1 December 2010
    It shall apply from 11 July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall apply from 11 January 2013.
  • Entry into force on 1 December 2010
  • Condition applicable from 11 January 2012
    As from 11 January 2012, by way of derogation from Directive 76/768/EEC, notification carried out in accordance with Article 13 of this Regulation shall be considered to comply with Article 7(3) and Article 7a(4) of that Directive
  • Application from 11 January 2013
    July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall apply from 11 January 2013.
  • Entry into force on 11 January 2013
  • Application from 11 July 2013
    It shall apply from 11 July 2013, with the exception of: — Article 15(1) and (2) which shall apply from 1 December 2010, as well as Articles 14, 31 and 32 to the extent that they are necessary to apply Article 15(1) and (2); and — Article 16(3) second subparagraph, which shall appl
  • Entry into force on 11 July 2013
  • Placing on the market before 11 July 2013
    Article 39 Transitional provisions By way of derogation from Directive 76/768/EEC, cosmetic products which comply with this Regulation may be placed on the market before 11 July 2013.
  • Placing on the market from 11 July 2013
    As from 11 July 2013, a distributor who makes available in a Member State a cosmetic product already placed on the market in another Member State and translates, on his own initiative, any element of the labelling of that product in order to comply with national law, shall submit, by electronic means, the following info

Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.

Identity

CosIng identifier
87467
CAS (according to CosIng)
64742-55-8
EC (according to CosIng)
265-158-7
Declared functions
Skin conditioning: emollient, Skin conditioning

The CAS number cited by CosIng also covers 2 other INCI names: it designates a family of substances, not this ingredient alone.

Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)

A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.

Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light paraffinic; Baseoil — unspecified; [A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained by treating a petroleum fraction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C15 through C30 and produces a finished oil with a viscosity of less than 100 SUS at 100 oF (19cSt at 40 oC). It contains a relatively large proportion of saturated hydrocarbons.]

CMR Carc. 1B

Hazard classes
Carc. 1B
Hazard statements
H350
CLP notes
L

The CMR classification does not apply if the substance meets an impurity limit (CLP note L, for example less than 0.1% butadiene for butane): this cannot be checked on an ingredient list.

Elsewhere in the world

Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.

United Kingdom (Great Britain)

  • Prohibited above an impurity threshold (Annex II)

Same entries as in the European Union. Conditions (concentrations, warnings) may differ: they are not compared here.

Switzerland

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).

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.

China

  • Prohibited: 二甲基亚砜提取物含量大于 3%（w/w）的加氢轻石蜡（石油）馏分 (Distillates （petroleum）, hydrotreated light paraffinic （CAS No. 64742-55-8）, if they contain > 3 % （w/w） DMSO extract)

    表1 化妆品禁用原料目录 (prohibited substances, 2021年第74号), entry 531, page 附件2 (.doc) table row 531 ; TID reprint p.21.

Brazil

  • Prohibited: Destilados (petróleo), parafínicos leves tratados com hidrogênio, se contiverem > 3 % (m/m) de extrato DMSO

    RDC 529/2021, Anexo (prohibited substances), entry 779, page 27. Conditions (source text, in Portuguese): N° UE: 779

Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.