Is Borage Seed Oil safe in cosmetics?
Borage Seed Oil has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Emollient
Borage Seed Oil
Also known as: Fats and Glyceridic oils, borage seed, Oils, glyceridic, borage, Borage oil, Borago officinalis oil, Fats and Glyceridic oils, borage (+3 more)
INCI: BORAGO OFFICINALIS SEED OIL
Borage Seed Oil (CAS 225234-12-8) is a cosmetic emollient functioning as Plant-derived emollient oil with approximately 20-24% GLA (gamma-linolenic. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 225234-12-8 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Plant-derived emollient oil with approximately 20-24% GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) content plus high linoleic acid. Addresses delta-6-desaturase metabolic deficiency in atopic dermatitis at approximately double the GLA dose of evening primrose oil. Functions as emollient and skin-conditioning agent with anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair properties via omega-6 fatty acid metabolism.
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR Expert Panel assessed 244 plant-derived fatty acid oils as safe as used. Highest GLA content of common cosmetic oils (approximately 20-24%). Extreme PUFA content requires aggressive antioxidant protection. PA contamination risk from Borago officinalis; France strictest PA limit at ≤1 μg/kg.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Borage Seed Oil.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Softener and conditioner
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Borage Seed Oil.
Regulatory Flags
pa-contamination-critical
france-pa-limit-1ug-kg
gla-23-25-pct
batch-pa-testing-required
anti-inflammatory-gla
no-annex-listing
cosmos-eligible-organic
epa_safer_alternative
Known Synonyms
Fats and Glyceridic oils, borage seed
Oils, glyceridic, borage
Borage oil
Borago officinalis oil
Fats and Glyceridic oils, borage
Quintesal 180
Ropufa Borage Oil Type 25
Vegetable oils, borage seed
Chemical Function
Softener and conditioner
Regulatory Lists
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; Personal care; Substances in PCP - Canada (4/2014)
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
SCIL (9/2019)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Borage Seed Oil allowed in the EU?
Borage Seed Oil EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Borage Seed Oil do in cosmetics?
Borage Seed Oil functions as: Plant-derived emollient oil with approximately 20-24% GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) content plus high linoleic acid. Addresses delta-6-desaturase metabolic deficiency in atopic dermatitis at approximately double the GLA dose of evening primrose oil. Functions as emollient and skin-conditioning agent with anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair properties via omega-6 fatty acid metabolism.. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 225234-12-8.
Compliance Tools
Check Borage Seed Oil 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
Related Ingredients
Alkyl Benzoate
Excellent
Same category
Emollient; skin-conditioning agent; U...
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Excellent
Same category
Plant-derived emollient oil from arga...
Babassu Oil
Excellent
Same category
Skin Conditioning - Emollient: Soften...
Babassu Oil
Excellent
Same category
Emollient; lauric acid-rich tropical oil
Beeswax
Excellent
Same category
Wax; viscosity modifier; film-former
Behenic Acid
Excellent
Same category
Cleansing, Emulsifier, Opacifier, Sur...
(AGARICUS BLAZEI FERMENT + GANODERMA LUCIDUM FERMENT + GANODERMA MULTIPILEUM FERMENT) EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-sebum, Antioxidant, Skin Protecting
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
Good
Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Pr...
(ANGELICA KEISKEI/CHRYSANTHEMUM ZAWADSKII) LEAF/STEM/CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/TRICHOSANTES KIRILOWII FRUIT/ULMUS DAVIDIANA BARK/ROOT/(PAEONIA JAPONICA/BUPLEURUM FALCATUM/POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA ROOT)/VISCUS ALBUM STEM EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-seborrheic, Anti-sebum, Antioxid...
(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Antioxidant
Artemia Extract
Good
Chemical family
Skin Conditioning
Borage Seed Oil (Borago Officinalis Seed Oil)
Good
Chemical family
Emollient
Borage Seed Oil / Hydrogenated Borage Seed Oil Esters
Excellent
Chemical family
Emollient, skin conditioning, antioxi...
Is Borage Seed Oil in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Borage Seed Oil in your formulation.