POTASSIUM THIOGLYCOLATE
Official label name (INCIInternational name of cosmetic ingredients: the one printed on the pack. name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 22779
- Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (Annex III)
POTASSIUM THIOGLYCOLATE: Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (Annex III, entry 2a), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 21 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
No official classification for sensitisation, irritation or eye damage, and no obligation to label it as an allergen.
Environment
No official classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment and no assessment as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
Read on the label
The Cosmetics Regulation requires no warning to be printed for this ingredient.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Depilatory: removes unwanted body hair.
Hair waving or straightening: modifies the chemical structure of the hair, allowing it to be set in the style required.
What the rules say
This name is only cited as an example in an entry of Annex III, which covers a family of substances: the exact conditions depend on the form used.
The text of the annexes
Allowed with restrictions
CosIng cites the name POTASSIUM THIOGLYCOLATE in this entry, whose regulated name is “THIOGLYCOLIC ACID”: the title below says which form or use it covers.
- Product type
- (a) Hair products (b) Depilatories (c) Hair rinse-off products (d) Products intended for eyelash waving
- Maximum concentration
- (a) (i) 8% (ii) 11% (b) 5% (c) 2% (d) 11% The abovementioned percentages are calculated as thioglycollic acid
- Other conditions
- (a) (i) General use ready for use pH 7 to 9.5 (ii) Professional use ready for use pH 7 to 9.5 (b) ready for use pH 7 to 12.7 (c) ready for use pH 7 to 9.5 (d) ready for use pH 7 to 9,5
- Warning to print
- Conditions of use: (a) (b) (c) (d) Avoid contact with eyes Rinse eyes immediately if product comes into contact with them. (a) (c) (d) Wear suitable gloves Warnings to be printed on the label: (a)(i) (b) (c) Contains thioglycolate Follow the instructions Keep out of reach of children (a)(ii) (d) For professional use only Contains thioglycolate Follow the instructions’
- Entry
- Annex III, No 2a
- Substance
- Thioglycolic acid and its salts
- Glossary names
- THIOGLYCOLIC ACID
- CAS
- 68-11-1
- EC
- 200-677-4
Dates in the act (4)
- Application from 10 August 2015
It shall apply from 10 August 2015, except the provisions in point 2 of the Annex which shall apply from 10 August 2016.
- Entry into force on 10 August 2015
- Application from 10 August 2016
It shall apply from 10 August 2015, except the provisions in point 2 of the Annex which shall apply from 10 August 2016.
- Entry into force on 10 August 2016
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
- 37035
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 34452-51-2
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 252-038-4
- Declared functions
- Depilatory, Hair waving or straightening
- Wikidata
- Q27293945
- PubChem
- 23688957
- ECHAEuropean Chemicals Agency. InfoCard
- 100.047.293
- InChIKey
- HYTYHTSMCRDHIM-UHFFFAOYSA-M
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 | Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own | not cited |
| United Kingdom | Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own | not cited |
| Switzerland | EU Regulation applies | not cited |
| United States (federal) | No federal rule recorded | not cited |
| Japan | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| South Korea | Restricted | 1 to 19% |
| China | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Australia | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
| Brazil | No entry in the lists recorded | not cited |
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Cited as an example in a rule, no rule of its own (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
- Restricted: 치오글라이콜릭애씨드,그 염류 및 에스텔류 (POTASSIUM THIOGLYCOLATE)
별표 2, 기타 (other substances with limits), entry 64, page 40-41. Limit: ․퍼머넌트웨 이브용 및 헤어스트레 이트너 제품에 치오글라이 콜릭애씨드 로서 11% (다만,가온2욕식 헤어스트레 이트너 제품의 경우에는 치오글라이콜 릭애씨드로서 5%,치오글라이 콜릭애씨드 및그 염류를 주성분으로 하고 제1제 사용 시 조제하는 발열 2욕식 퍼머넌트웨이 브용 제품의 경우 치오글라이 콜릭애씨드 로서 19%에 해당하는 양) ․제모용 제품에 치오글라이 콜릭애씨드 로서 5% ․염모제에 치오글라이 콜릭애씨드 로서 1% ․사용 후 씻어내는 두발용 제품류에 2%.
Conditions, source text, in Korean
비고: 기타 제품에는 사용금지 | 화학물질명: 치오글라이콜릭애씨드 (CAS No. 68-11-1) | 화학물질명: 암모늄티오글라이콜레이트 (CAS No. 5421-46-5) | 화학물질명: 에탄올아민티오글라이콜레이트 (CAS No. 126-97-6) | 화학물질명: 칼슘티오글라이콜레이트 (CAS No. 814-71-1) | 화학물질명: 소듐티오글라이콜레이트 (CAS No. 367-51-1) | 화학물질명: 포타슘티오글라이콜레이트 (CAS No. 34452-51-2) | 화학물질명: 스트론튬티오글라이콜레이트 (CAS No. 38337-95-0) | 화학물질명: 칼슘티오글라이콜레이트하이드록사이드 (CAS No. 65208-41-5 / 29820-13-1) | 화학물질명: 마그네슘티오글라이콜레이트 (CAS No. 63592-16-5) | 화학물질명: 시스테아민티오글라이콜레이트 (CAS No. 2368928-49-6)
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
20 recorded products list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (in French).
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.