Carnosol

Carnosol is a phenolic diterpene antioxidant isolated from rosemary and sage, functioning as a potent free radical scavenger with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It is permitted in the EU and not FDA-restricted. The 2018 CIR safety assessment concluded rosemary-derived ingredients are safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing, with rosemary leaf extract restricted to 0.2% in leave-on products. The primary safety concern is confirmed sensitization potential—carnosol is the identified allergen responsible for documented cases of allergic contact dermatitis from rosemary. Adequate margin of safety is achievable at typical cosmetic concentrations, but sensitization risk must be managed through appropriate formulation design and concentration limits. The EU classifies Carnosol as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

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

Carnosol functions as: Antioxidant; Skin Conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 5957-80-2.

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.