LECITHIN
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 15188
- No specific rule in the Cosmetics Regulation
LECITHIN: no specific rule of the EU Cosmetics Regulation names it. It is neither prohibited nor restricted there, and it is on none of its lists of colorants, preservatives or UV filters.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Antistatic: reduces static electricity by neutralising electrical charge on a surface.
Emollient (skin conditioning): softens and smooths the skin.
Emulsifying (surfactant): promotes the formation of intimate mixtures of non-miscible liquids by altering the interfacial tension.
Skin conditioning: maintains the skin in good condition.
What the rules say
No EU rule targets this ingredient specifically. It remains subject to the general rule: every product must undergo a safety assessment before it is sold (Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009), under the manufacturer's responsibility.
The text of the annexes
No specific rule of the EU Cosmetics Regulation names this ingredient: it is on none of its lists (prohibited, restricted, colorants, preservatives, UV filters). It may be used under the responsibility of the manufacturer, who must ensure the product is safe.
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 34995
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 8002-43-5, 8030-76-0
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 232-307-2, 310-129-7
- Declared functions
- Antistatic, Skin conditioning: emollient, Surfactant: emulsifying, Skin conditioning
- Wikidata
- Q241595
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.029.368
CosIng cites 2 CAS numbers for this name: it covers several substances.
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- No specific rule in the Cosmetics Regulation
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: 胆碱的盐类及它们的酯类,包括氯化胆碱、菲诺贝特胆碱、胆碱水杨 酸盐、胆碱葡萄糖酸盐、胆茶碱、硬脂酸等长链烷烃羧酸胆碱酯; 不包括卵磷脂、甘油磷酸胆碱、氢化溶血卵磷酸酯酰胆碱、氢化卵磷酰 胆碱、卵磷酰胆碱类; 其他相关原料需经安全风险评估方可确定 (Choline salts and their esters, including choline chloride （INN） （CAS No. 67-48-1）, choline fenofibrate （CAS No. 856676-23-8）, choline salicylate （CAS No. 2016-36-6）, choline gluconate （CAS No. 507-30-2）, choline theophylline （CAS No. 4499-40-5）, choline esters of stearic acid and other long alkyl chain carboxylic acids; excluding lecithin （CAS No. 93685-90-6）, glycerophosphocholine （CAS No. 28319-77-9）, hydrogenated lysophosphatidylcholine （CAS No. 9008-30-4）, hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine（CAS No. 97281-48-6）, phosphatidylcholine （CAS No. 8002-43-5）; the usage of other relevant ingredients requires safety assessment)
表1 化妆品禁用原料目录 (prohibited substances, 2021年第74号), entry 410, page 附件2 (.doc) table row 410 ; TID reprint p.17.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
428 recorded products 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.