Is Cetyl Betaine safe in cosmetics?
Cetyl Betaine has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Cetyl Betaine
Also known as: BRN 3676787, N-(Carboxymethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1-hexadecanaminium hydroxide inner salt, N,N-Dimethyl-N-hexadecylglycine, EINECS 211-748-4, UNII-E945X08YA9
INCI: CETYL BETAINE
Cetyl Betaine (CAS 693-33-4) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Antistatic, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant-Cleansing, Foam. NOAEL 250 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); 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 data.
Function
Antistatic, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant-Cleansing, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing
Editorial assessment
MODERATE
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2-[hexadecyl(dimethyl)azaniumyl]acetate
InChIKey
TYIOVYZMKITKRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; CIR: safe as used when formulated to be non-irritating (alkyl betaines final report, 2014)
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Cetyl Betaine.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Cetyl Betaine. 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 | =350 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ECHA |
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Cetyl Betaine across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10 - 100 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-static agent
Cleaning agent
Foamant
Softener and conditioner
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Thickening agent
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Cetyl Betaine — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Cetyl Betaine by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
350 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
350 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA
Known Synonyms
BRN 3676787
N-(Carboxymethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1-hexadecanaminium hydroxide inner salt
N,N-Dimethyl-N-hexadecylglycine
EINECS 211-748-4
UNII-E945X08YA9
Chemical Function
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Anti-static agent
Softener and conditioner
Viscosity modifier
Cleaning agent
Foamant
Regulatory Lists
SCIL (9/2019)
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - hair styling and care - shampoo
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cetyl Betaine allowed in the EU?
Cetyl Betaine EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Cetyl Betaine do in cosmetics?
Cetyl Betaine functions as: Antistatic, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant-Cleansing, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 693-33-4.
What is the NOAEL for Cetyl Betaine?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Cetyl Betaine is =350 mg/kg bw/day based on a subchronic study via oral route in Rat. Source: ECHA.
Is Cetyl Betaine used outside cosmetics?
Cetyl Betaine also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Cetyl Betaine 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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