HYDROQUINONE
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 13185
- Prohibited, with exceptions (Annex II)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
HYDROQUINONE: Prohibited, with exceptions (Annex II, entry 1339); allowed with restrictions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex III, entry 14), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Antioxidant: inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.
Bleaching: lightens the shade of hair or skin.
Hair dyeing: colours hair.
Fragrance.
Reducing: changes the chemical nature of another substance by adding hydrogen or removing oxygen.
What the rules say
Prohibited, with the exceptions set out in the official title: "1,4-Dihydroxybenzene (Hydroquinone), with the exception of entry 14 in Annex III".
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.
Hazard and risk
The CLP Regulation classifies this substance as carcinogenic, category 2 (suspected effect, without enough evidence for a higher category) and mutagenic (may damage DNA), category 2 (suspected effect, without enough evidence for a higher category).
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).
Classified as a category 2 CMR and allowed under the conditions of Annex III, after an SCCS assessment.
The text of the annexes
Prohibited, with exceptions
CosIng links the name HYDROQUINONE to this entry. The cases of prohibition are explained above, in “In plain words”; the official title is given below.
- Entry
- Annex II, No 1339
- Substance
- 1,4-Dihydroxybenzene (Hydroquinone), with the exception of entry 14 in Annex III
- CAS
- 123-31-9
- EC
- 204-617-8
- CMR
- Carcinogenic Cat. 2(),Mutagenic Cat. 2()
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 15 May 2013
- Application from 11 July 2013
It shall apply from 11 July 2013.
- Entry into force on 11 July 2013
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Allowed with restrictions
- Entry
- Annex III, No 14
- Substance
- Hydroquinone
- Glossary names
- HYDROQUINONE
- CAS
- 123-31-9
- EC
- 204-617-8
- Product type
- Artificial nail systems
- Maximum concentration
- 0.02% (after mixing for use)
- Other conditions
- Professional use
- Warnings
- - For professional use only - Avoid skin contact - Read directions for use carefully
- CMR
- Carcinogenic Cat. 2(),Mutagenic Cat. 2()
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 15 May 2013
- Application from 11 July 2013
It shall apply from 11 July 2013.
- Entry into force on 11 July 2013
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
- 76687
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 123-31-9
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 204-617-8
- Declared functions
- Antioxidant, Bleaching, Hair dyeing, Fragrance, Reducing
- Wikidata
- Q419164
- PubChem
- 785
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.004.199
- InChIKey
- QIGBRXMKCJKVMJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Classified hazard (CLP Regulation)
A classification describes an intrinsic hazard, not a risk: the risk depends on the dose, the form and the exposure.
1,4-dihydroxybenzene; hydroquinone; quinol
CMR Carc. 2 ; Muta. 2
- Hazard classes
- Carc. 2
Muta. 2
Acute Tox. 4 *
Eye Dam. 1
Skin Sens. 1
Aquatic Acute 1 - Hazard statements
- H351 H341 H302 H318 H317 H400
Classified as a category 2 CMR and allowed under the conditions of Annex III, after an SCCS assessment.
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
309 alerts on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself; each alert states the reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on).
- 31 July 2026: Skin lightening lotion, Pr. Francoise Bedon Paris, United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
- 8 May 2026: Skin lightening cream, SHINESHINE SKINCARE, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 8 May 2026: Skin lightening cream, SHINESHINE SKINCARE, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 8 May 2026: Skin lightening cream, SHINESHINE SKINCARE, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 8 May 2026: Skin lightening cleanser, SHINESHINE SKINCARE, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 8 May 2026: Skin lightening soap, SHINESHINE SKINCARE, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 8 May 2026: Skin lightening cleanser, SHINESHINE SKINCARE, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 6 March 2026: Body lotion, Classic Gold, United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
- 6 March 2026: Body lotion, Skin Nourish, United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
- 6 March 2026: Body lotion, Silky Pleasure, United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Prohibited, with exceptions (Annex II)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
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.
South Korea
- Prohibited: 히드로퀴논 (HYDROQUINONE)
별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 1012, page 50.
China
- Prohibited: 氢醌 (1,4-Dihydroxybenzene （Hydroquinone） （CAS No. 123-31-9）)
表1 化妆品禁用原料目录 (prohibited substances, 2021年第74号), entry 34, page 附件2 (.doc) table row 34 ; TID reprint p.4.
Australia
- Pharmacy only, in the cases stated: HYDROQUINONE
Poisons Standard, Schedule 2 (cosmetic entries), page 72. Thresholds cited: 2% or less | 0.3% or less | 0.02% or less. Conditions (source text): (excluding monobenzone and alkyl ethers of hydroquinone included in Schedule 4) in preparations for human external therapeutic or cosmetic use containing 2% or less of hydroquinone except | (a) in hair preparations containing 0.3% or less of hydroquinone; or | (b) in cosmetic nail preparations containing 0.02% or less of hydroquinone.
- Prescription only, in the cases stated: HYDROQUINONE
Poisons Standard, Schedule 4 (cosmetic entries), page 139. Thresholds cited: 0.3% or less | 0.02% or less. Conditions (source text): (other than its alkyl ethers separately specified in this Schedule) in preparations for human therapeutic or cosmetic use except | (a) when included in Schedule 2; or | (b) in hair preparations containing 0.3% or less of hydroquinone; or | (c) in cosmetic nail preparations containing 0.02% or less of hydroquinone.
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 (page in French).
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.