Good Cosmetic Ingredient NOAEL Data GHS Classified

Alcohol

INCI: ALCOHOL

CAS Number
64-17-5
Function
Solvent, antimicrobial agent, astringent, antifoaming agent, viscosity-controlling agent, penetration enhancer
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes CIR Expert Panel concluded Alcohol and Alcohol Denat. are safe as used in cosmetics; dermal application does not produce significant systemic ethanol exposure; safety of denatured forms depends on denaturant used

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
high
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

10 study endpoints found for Alcohol. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.

Endpoint Value Route Species Study Type Source
NOAEL 1730 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
LOAEL 2340 mg/kg bw/day oral monkey oral REACH
NOAEL 2 other other rat oral REACH
NOAEL ca.3250 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOEL 6200 mg/kg bw/day oral monkey oral REACH
NOAEL 9700 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse oral REACH
NOAEL 13.3 2100 1995 rat inhalation REACH
NOAEL >20 mg/L air 1991 rat inhalation REACH
NOAEL >20 mg/L air 1991 rat inhalation REACH
NOAEL 2 other other rat oral REACH

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word
DANGER
Pictograms
flam;flame; excl mark;warn; cancer;health haz
Hazard Statements
Highly flammable liquid and vapour Harmful if swallowed Causes serious eye irritation May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is severely irritating to the eyes. The vapour at high levels is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking. The substance may have effects on the upper respiratory tract and central nervous system. This may result in irritation, headache, fatigue and lack of concentration. See Notes.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

A well-established, multifunctional cosmetic solvent with a long safety record. CIR and SCCS data confirm safety at cosmetic use levels. The main caveat is its role as a penetration enhancer, which can increase systemic delivery of co-formulated ingredients, and the pending EU CMR category 2 reprotoxic reclassification which – if finalised – would require a derogation assessment. Not a sensitizer.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

penetration-enhancer eu-regulatory-watch flammable ewg-limited-data antimicrobial solvent prop65 eu_children_restricted epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alcohol safe in cosmetics?

A well-established, multifunctional cosmetic solvent with a long safety record. CIR and SCCS data confirm safety at cosmetic use levels. The main caveat is its role as a penetration enhancer, which can increase systemic delivery of co-formulated ingredients, and the pending EU CMR category 2 reprotoxic reclassification which – if finalised – would require a derogation assessment. Not a sensitizer. The EU classifies Alcohol as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Alcohol allowed in the EU?

Alcohol EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Alcohol do in cosmetics?

Alcohol functions as: Solvent, antimicrobial agent, astringent, antifoaming agent, viscosity-controlling agent, penetration enhancer. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 64-17-5.

What is the Margin of Safety for Alcohol?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

What is the NOAEL for Alcohol?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Alcohol is 1730 mg/kg bw/day based on a oral study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: REACH.

Is Alcohol classified as hazardous under GHS?

Alcohol carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapour Harmful if swallowed Causes serious eye irritation May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

Compliance Tools

Check Alcohol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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