SALICYLIC ACID
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 25085
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
SALICYLIC ACID: Allowed with restrictions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex III, entry 98); preservative allowed under conditions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex V, entry 3), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Anti-seborrheic: helps control sebum production.
Hair conditioning: leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparts volume, lightness, gloss, etc.
Keratolytic: helps eliminate the dead cells of the stratum corneum.
Fragrance.
Preservative: inhibits primarily the development of micro-organisms in cosmetics.
Skin conditioning: maintains the skin in good condition.
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.
An ingredient can be used as a preservative only if it appears on the list of Annex V. <function plain_language.<locals>.name at 0x7f7804e071a0> is on it with a maximum concentration and with a warning to print.
Hazard and risk
The CLP Regulation classifies this substance as toxic for reproduction, 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
Allowed with restrictions
- Entry
- Annex III, No 98
- Substance
- Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-
- Glossary names
- SALICYLIC ACID
- CAS
- 69-72-7
- EC
- 200-712-3
- Product type
- (a) Rinse-off hair products (b) Other products except body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, roll-on deodorant (c) Body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, roll-on deodorant
- Maximum concentration
- (a) 3.0% (b) 2.0% (c) 0.5%
- Other conditions
- (a) (b) (c) Not to be used in preparations for children under 3 years of age. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation. Not to be used in oral products. For purposes other than inhibiting the development of micro-organisms in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product. These levels are inclusive of any use of salicylic acid.
- Warnings
- (a) (b) (c) Not to be used for children under 3 years of age* * Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age.
- CMR
- Reprotoxic Cat. 2()
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 17 June 2021
- Application from 1 October 2021
Article 1 shall apply from 1 October 2021 with respect to points (1), (2) (b), (3) and (4) of the Annex.
- Entry into force on 1 October 2021
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Preservative allowed under conditions
This entry covers the same substance as SALICYLIC ACID (same CAS number in the CosIng inventory): its conditions apply.
- Entry
- Annex V, No 3
- Substance
- Salicylic acid and its salts
- Glossary names
- SALICYLIC ACID, CALCIUM SALICYLATE, MAGNESIUM SALICYLATE, MEA- SALICYLATE, SODIUM SALICYLATE, POTASSIUM SALICYLATE, TEA- SALICYLATE
- CAS
- 69-72-7[1]/ 824-35-1[2]/ 18917-89-0[3]/ 59866-70-5[4]/ 54-21-7[5]/ 578-36-9[6]/ 2174-16-5[7]
- EC
- 200-712-3[1]/ 212-525-4[2]/ 242-669-3[3]/ 261-963-2[4]/ 200-198-0[5]/ 209-421-6[6]/ 218-531-3[7]
- Maximum concentration
- Salicylic acid: 0,5 % (acid) Salicylic acid salts: 0,5 % (acid)
- Other conditions
- Salicylic acid: Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age. Not to be used in oral products. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation. Salicylic acid salts: Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age, except for shampoos.
- Warnings
- Salicylic acid: Not to be used for children under 3 years of age** **Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age. Salicylic acid salts: Not to be used for children under 3 years of age*** ***Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age and which remain in prolonged contact with the skin.
Dates in the act (5)
- Application from 11 June 2019
Points (1)(a) and (2)(b) of Annex II shall apply from 11 June 2019.
- Entry into force on 11 June 2019
- Entry into force on 18 December 2019
- Application from 1 May 2020
Article 1 shall apply from 1 May 2020.
- Entry into force on 1 May 2020
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
- 37595
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 69-72-7
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 200-712-3
- Declared functions
- Anti-seborrheic, Hair conditioning, Keratolytic, Fragrance, Preservative, Skin conditioning
- Wikidata
- Q193572
- PubChem
- 338
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.000.648
- InChIKey
- YGSDEFSMJLZEOE-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.
salicylic acid
CMR Repr. 2
- Hazard classes
- Repr. 2
Acute Tox. 4
Eye Dam. 1 - Hazard statements
- H361d H302 H318
Classified as a category 2 CMR and allowed under the conditions of Annex III, after an SCCS assessment.
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
9 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).
- 15 November 2024: Skin peeling product, Laviderm, Spain (“Serious risk”) alert
- 20 September 2024: Skin peel, TEGODER TDC CLINIK, Spain (“Serious risk”) alert
- 17 November 2023: Skin peel, Circadia, Germany (“Serious risk”) alert
- 9 June 2023: Skin lightening cream, Monobenzone, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 20 May 2022: Salicylic Acid Cleanser, The Inkey List, Ireland (“Other risk levels”) alert
- 23 July 2021: Skin lightening cream, H Cosmetics, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 23 July 2021: Skin lightening cream, H Cosmetics, New Light, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 23 July 2021: Skin lightening cream, H Cosmetics, La Bamakoise, Sweden (“Serious risk”) alert
- 26 August 2016: Peeling cream, Juvais Natural Skin, Finland (“Serious risk”) alert
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
- Preservative allowed under conditions (Annex V)
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.
Japan
- Allowed under conditions: サリチル酸 (Salicylic acid)
Annex 3-1 (allowed preservatives), entry 7, page 7. Limit: 0.20 g per 100 g of product. Conditions (source text, in Japanese): [sous-liste] 1 すべての化粧品に配合の制限がある成分 | 100g中の最大配合量（g）: 0.20
South Korea
- Restricted: 살리실릭애씨드 및 그 염류 (SALICYLIC ACID)
별표 2, 보존제 성분 (preservatives), entry 23, page 5-6. Limit: 살리실릭애씨드 로서 0.5%. Conditions (source text, in Korean): 비고: 영유아용 제품류 또는 만 13세 이하 어린이가 사용할 수 있음을 특정하여 표시하는 제품에는 사용금지(다만,샴푸는 제외) | 화학물질명: 살리실릭애씨드 (CAS No. 69-72-7) | 화학물질명: 칼슘살리실레이트 (CAS No. 824-35-1) | 화학물질명: 마그네슘살리실레이트 (CAS No. 18917-89-0) | 화학물질명: 엠이에이-살리실레이트 (CAS No. 59866-70-5) | 화학물질명: 소듐살리실레이트 (CAS No. 54-21-7) | 화학물질명: 포타슘살리실레이트 (CAS No. 578-36-9) | 화학물질명: TEA-살리실레이트 (CAS No. 2174-16-5) | 화학물질명: 베타인살리실레이트 (CAS No. 17671-53-3)
- Restricted: 살리실릭애씨드 및 그 염류 (SALICYLIC ACID)
별표 2, 기타 (other substances with limits), entry 38, page 33-34. Limit: ․인체세정용 제품류에 살리실릭애씨드로서 2% ․사용 후 씻어내는 두발용 제품류에 살리실릭애씨드로서 3%. Conditions (source text, in Korean): 비고: ․영유아용 제품류 또는 만 13세 이하 어린이가 사용할 수 있음을 특정하여 표시하는 제품에는 사용금지 (다만,샴푸는 제외) ․기능성화장품의 유효성분 으로 사용하는 경우에 한하며 기타 제품에는 사용금지 | 화학물질명: 살리실릭애씨드 (CAS No. 69-72-7) | 화학물질명: 칼슘살리실레이트 (CAS No. 824-35-1) | 화학물질명: 마그네슘살리실레이트 (CAS No. 18917-89-0) | 화학물질명: 엠이에이-살리실레이트 (CAS No. 59866-70-5) | 화학물질명: 소듐살리실레이트 (CAS No. 54-21-7) | 화학물질명: 포타슘살리실레이트 (CAS No. 578-36-9) | 화학물질명: 티이에이-살리실레이트 (CAS No. 2174-16-5) | 화학물질명: 베타인살리실레이트 (CAS No. 17671-53-3)
Brazil
- Allowed under conditions: Ácido salicílico e seus sais (*) (a)SALICYLIC ACID b) CALCIUM SALICYLATE/ MAGNESIUM SALICYLATE/MEA-SALICYLATE/ SODIUM SALICYLATE/ POTASSIUM SALICYLATE/TEA-SALICYLATE)
RDC 528/2021, Anexo (allowed preservatives), entry 4, page 2;3. Limit: a) e b) 0,5% (expresso como ácido). Conditions (source text, in Portuguese): LIMITAÇÕES: a) -Proibido em produtos para crianças menores de 3 anos. - Proibido em produtos para uso bucal. - Proibido em produtos cuja aplicação possa conduzir à exposição pela via de inalação. b) Proibido em produtos para crianças menores de 3 anos, com exceção dos xampus com enxágue. | CONDIÇÕES DE USO E ADVERTÊNCIAS: a) -Para produtos de uso adulto: "Não usar em crianças". -Para produtos destinados ao público infantil: "Não usar em crianças menores de 3 anos”. b)-Para produtos de uso adulto: "Não usar em crianças". -Para produtos destinados ao público infantil, exceto para xampus com enxágue: "Não usar em crianças menores de 3 anos”.
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
662 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.