Is Arginine safe in cosmetics?
Arginine has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Arginine
Also known as: Arginine, L-, 4-04-00-02648, (S)-2-Amino-5-((aminoiminomethyl)amino)pentanoic acid, 1-Amino-4-guanidovaleric acid, (L)-Arginine (+14 more)
INCI: ARGININE
Arginine (CAS 74-79-3) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Amino acid / pH Adjuster. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 74-79-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Amino acid / pH Adjuster
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
GRAS as direct food additive under 21 CFR 172.320. No specific FDA restrictions on cosmetic use. 505 reported formulations in VCRP — highest among all alpha-amino acids at time of CIR review.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Arginine.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Arginine, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
2-5%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
174.2 Da
Log P
-4.2
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
1-3%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: J Cosmet Sci 2017
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
1 toxicity value from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =3.131 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EFSA |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 0.1–1 | 2 | CIR/VCRP |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "74-79-3", "anti_acne_mechanism": "anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "0-5", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "No limit", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": "No", "eu_cosmetic_restriction_ac…
anti_aging
{"anti_aging_claim": "hydration-plumping, barrier-repair", "mechanism_of_action": "Building block for proteins, NMF component", "target_skin_layer": "epidermis", "collagen_stimulation": "Mild", "elastin_protection": "Mild", "wrinkle_reduction_pct": "6-12", "clinical_study_duration_weeks": "8", "sample_size": "25", "double_blind": "Yes", "placebo_controlled": "Yes", "published_journal": "Int J Cosm…
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "74-79-3", "ingredient_class": "other", "primary_mechanism": "barrier_reinforcement", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_modulation": "no", "NF_kB_inhibition…
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "0.1", "max_concentration_pct": "2.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "1.0", "product_type": "Moisturizer", "function_at_concentration": "Skin conditioning", "source": "Clinical literature"}
dermal_absorption
{"molecular_weight_da": "174.2", "log_p_value": "-4.2", "skin_penetration_level": "surface", "penetration_depth": "stratum corneum", "absorption_pct": "2-5", "systemic_absorption": "minimal", "penetration_enhancer": "no", "occlusion_effect": "no", "vehicle_dependent": "yes", "skin_barrier_effect": "strengthens", "bioavailability_topical_pct": "1-3", "safety_margin_factor": "low", "source": "J Cosm…
hair_care
{"hair_function": "strengthening", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "all", "porosity_suitability": "all", "protein_sensitivity": "protein", "moisture_protein_balance": "yes", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "yes", "color_safe": "strengthens", …
humectant
{"cas_number": "74-79-3", "ingredient_class": "humectant/NMF_component/amino_acid", "molecular_weight_Da": "174.20", "chemical_type": "amino_acid", "water_binding_mechanism": "hydrogen_bonding/hygroscopic", "water_holding_capacity_g_per_g": "0.3-0.5", "hygroscopicity_at_50_RH": "moderate", "hygroscopicity_at_80_RH": "good", "NMF_component": "yes", "NMF_percentage_natural": "1-2", "TEWL_reduction_p…
pediatric_safety
{"safe_for_newborn_0_6m": "yes", "safe_for_infant_6_12m": "yes", "safe_for_toddler_1_3y": "yes", "safe_for_child_3_12y": "yes", "safe_for_teen_12_18y": "yes", "pediatric_max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "adult_max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "pediatric_dermal_absorption_factor": "normal", "diaper_area_safe": "yes", "pediatric_allergy_prevalence": "low", "banned_in_children_products_eu": "no", "banned…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-static agent
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Softener and conditioner
Regulatory List Membership (3)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Arginine.
Regulatory Flags
eu-unrestricted
cir-approved
gras-fda
non-sensitizing
humectant
eu_children_restricted
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Arginine by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
12
Lowest NOAEL
3130.9 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
3879 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
Known Synonyms
Arginine, L-
4-04-00-02648
(S)-2-Amino-5-((aminoiminomethyl)amino)pentanoic acid
1-Amino-4-guanidovaleric acid
(L)-Arginine
BRN 1725413
EINECS 200-811-1
L-Norvaline, 5-((aminoiminomethyl)amino)-
Pentanoic acid, 2-amino-5-((aminoiminomethyl)amino)-, (S)-
Argininum
UNII-94ZLA3W45F
(2S)-2-amino-5-(carbamimidamido)pentanoic acid
(2S)-2-amino-5-(diaminomethylideneamino)pentanoic acid
(2S)-2-amino-5-[(diaminomethylidene)amino]pentanoic acid
(2S)-2-amino-5-guanidino-pentanoic acid
(2S)-2-amino-5-guanidinopentanoic acid
(S)-2-Amino-5-[(aminoiminomethyl)amino]pentanoate
(S)-2-amino-5-[(aminoiminomethyl)amino]-Pentanoate
(S)-2-amino-5-[(aminoiminomethyl)amino]-Pentanoic acid
Chemical Function
Anti-static agent
Deodorizer
Softener and conditioner
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory Lists
pharmaceutical
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Canada; pharmaceutical
Europe
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
ARGININE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1485
Max Phase
3
Adverse Event Associations
184
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arginine allowed in the EU?
Arginine EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Arginine do in cosmetics?
Arginine functions as: Amino acid / pH Adjuster. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 74-79-3.
Is Arginine used outside cosmetics?
Arginine also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Arginine compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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