Worth a closer look
Chemical of concern Restricted in the EU
- What it can be used for
- Conditions skin (the functions the EU ingredient database, CosIng, lists for it; a product may use it for any of them)
- CAS number
- 79-81-2
Why it’s flagged
Listed as a chemical of concern by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
- “Retinol and retinol compounds”. Source: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is an advocacy group. Its profiles explain why it considers these ingredients a concern.
Allowed in EU cosmetics only with limits.
- Annex III entry 376; products: (a) Body lotion; (b) other leave-on and rinse-off products; max (a) 0,05 % Retinol Equivalent (RE); (b) 0,3 % RE; required warning: For any cosmetic product containing Retinol, Retinyl Acetate or Retinyl Palmitate the following, labeling is obligatory: ‘Contains Vitamin A. Consider your dai. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex III (restricted)
Annex III (restricted substances) or Annex V (preservatives) of the EU Cosmetics Regulation sets maximum amounts, allowed product types or required warnings.
What this page can’t tell you
These lists describe what a substance can do, its hazard. The risk from one product depends on how much is in it and how you use it, and the label doesn’t say how much.
Not being on a list doesn’t make an ingredient safe. It may never have been assessed.
Check your products
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Flagged the same way
Official lists checked September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.