Is Chlorphenesin safe in cosmetics?
Chlorphenesin has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. This ingredient has been reviewed by CIR Safety Assessment.
Chlorphenesin
Also known as: 3-(4-CHLOROPHENOXY)-1,2-PROPANEDIOL, 1,2-Propanediol, 3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-, 2-Chlorphenesin, p-Chlorophenyl glyceryl ether, 4-06-00-00831 (+8 more)
INCI: CHLORPHENESIN
Chlorphenesin (CAS 104-29-0) is a cosmetic preservative functioning as Preservative; antimicrobial. NOAEL 100 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 0.3%; 1 safety opinion reviewed (CIR Safety Assessment). Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Chlorphenesin is classified GHS Danger (H302, H315, H318, H319, H332, H335) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 0.3%.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu status/eu max; Chemicals: ghs classifications.signal word/hazard statement code
Function
Preservative; antimicrobial
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
0.3%
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; no concentration cap under FDA/MoCRA; cited as a preferable alternative to benzalkonium chloride for eye-area formulations
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Chlorphenesin.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
CIR Safety Assessment
Verdict: safe
ailable data demonstrated an absence of toxicity. The Panel concluded that chlorphenesin is safe in the present practices of use and concentration. Keywords chlorphenesin, safety, cosmetics Introduction As stated in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook,1 chlorphenesin fu
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Chlorphenesin across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Chlorphenesin based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.2%
Cross-reactivity Group
none
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
Source: ESSCA; IVDK; NACDG
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Chlorphenesin, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
12-20%
Penetration Level
epidermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis/dermis
Molecular Weight
202.6 Da
Log P
1.88
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
8-16%
Safety Margin Factor
moderate
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: SCCS Opinion
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: preservative
Receptor targets: ERα
LOEC: 50 µM
EU status: restricted (max 0.3%)
weak agonist
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100 - 1,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
EU CosIng Annex Listing
European Commission CosIng database Annex references per Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Annex V — Permitted Preservatives
Max: 0.3%
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
KR Korea MFDS Annex 2 (Restricted)
Category: Preservative. Max: 0.3%. —
SA Saudi SFDA (V - Preservatives)
Max: 0.003.
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Japan (Positive (Preservative)): max 0.30
Japan (Restricted): max Wash-away: 0.30% | Leave-on: 0.30% | Mucosa: Prohibited
Korea (Restricted): max 0.3%
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
Brazil: Permitted Preservative · max 0,3%
India: Permitted Preservative · max 0.003
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (7)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP | restricted | Wash-away: 0.30% | Leave-on: 0.30% | Mucosa: Prohibited | Wash-away: 0.30% | Leave-on: 0.30% | Mucosa: Prohibited |
| CN | permitted_preservative | 0.3 | All cosmetics |
| IN | permitted_preservative | 0.3 | all cosmetics |
| AU | restricted | 0.3 | preservatives |
| GCC | restricted | 0.3 | All cosmetics |
| BR | permitted_preservative | 0.3 | - |
| ASEAN | permitted_preservative | 0.3% | All products |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Lotion | 0.1–0.3 | 0.3 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Shampoo | 0.1–0.3 | 0.3 | CIR Safety Assessment |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Biocide
Preservative
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Chlorphenesin — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
preservative
eu-annex-v
eye-area-compatible
bak-alternative
better-ocular-compatibility
mascara
eu_cosing_listed
Known Synonyms
3-(4-CHLOROPHENOXY)-1,2-PROPANEDIOL
1,2-Propanediol, 3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-
2-Chlorphenesin
p-Chlorophenyl glyceryl ether
4-06-00-00831
BRN 2210845
Chlorophenesin
EINECS 203-192-6
Chlorphenesinum
UNII-I670DAL4SZ
3-(p-chlorophenoxy)-1,2-propanediol
glycerol alpha-p-chlorophenyl ether
p-chlorophenyl-alpha-glyceryl ether
Chemical Function
Biocide
Preservative
Regulatory Lists
Europe; Personal care
pharmaceutical
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
Europe; Personal care - oral and dental care - teeth whitener
Canada; consumer_product; Substances in Products - Canada (4/2014)
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
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.
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL388751
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chlorphenesin allowed in the EU?
Chlorphenesin EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.3%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Chlorphenesin do in cosmetics?
Chlorphenesin functions as: Preservative; antimicrobial. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 104-29-0.
Is Chlorphenesin used outside cosmetics?
Chlorphenesin 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.
Does Chlorphenesin have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Chlorphenesin is classified GHS Danger (H302, H315, H318, H319, H332, H335) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max 0.3%.
Compliance Tools
Check Chlorphenesin 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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