THIOGLYCOLIC ACID
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 28764
- Allowed with restrictions (Annex III)
THIOGLYCOLIC ACID: Allowed with restrictions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex III, entry 2a), 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.
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.
Reducing: changes the chemical nature of another substance by adding hydrogen or removing oxygen.
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.
The text of the annexes
Allowed with restrictions
- Entry
- Annex III, No 2a
- Substance
- Thioglycolic acid and its salts
- Glossary names
- THIOGLYCOLIC ACID
- CAS
- 68-11-1
- EC
- 200-677-4
- 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
- Warnings
- 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’
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
- 38587
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 68-11-1
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 200-677-4
- Declared functions
- Antioxidant, Depilatory, Hair waving or straightening, Reducing
- Wikidata
- Q414738
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.000.616
- InChIKey
- CWERGRDVMFNCDR-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.
thioglycolic acid
No harmonised CMR classification
- Hazard classes
- Acute Tox. 3 * Acute Tox. 3 * Acute Tox. 3 *
Skin Corr. 1B - Hazard statements
- H331 H311 H301 H314
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
3 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).
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)
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 (THIOGLYCOLIC ACID)
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
3 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.