Poor Cosmetic Ingredient GHS Classified

Cuprous Oxide

INCI: CUPROUS OXIDE

CAS Number

1317-39-1

Function

Colorant (CI 77402); antimicrobial agent (primarily biocidal, not cosmetic)

Safety Rating

POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited

🇺🇸 US Status permitted

US Notes Not specifically FDA-listed for cosmetics; no CIR monograph. Used in antifouling paints (EPA-regulated), not cosmetics.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)

not established

Dermal Absorption

negligible

Sensitization

moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word

DANGER

Pictograms

excl mark;warn; corr; enviro;aqua

Hazard Statements

Harmful if swallowed or if inhaled Causes serious eye damage Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Short-term Exposure Effects

The substance is corrosive to the eyes. The substance is irritating to the respiratory tract and digestive tract. Inhalation of fumes may cause metal fume fever. Exposure at high levels could cause kidneys and liver impairment. The effects may be delayed.

Long-term Exposure Effects

Lungs may be affected by repeated or prolongated exposure to dust particles.

Routes of Exposure

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.

Expert Verdict

Harmful if swallowed and very toxic to aquatic organisms; primarily a biocidal substance. Regulatory concern: use in cosmetics would require full Article 14 safety justification in the EU. Not recommended for cosmetic formulation without extensive safety data.

⚠️

Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

colorant

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cuprous Oxide safe in cosmetics?

Is Cuprous Oxide allowed in the EU?

Cuprous Oxide EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Cuprous Oxide do in cosmetics?

Cuprous Oxide functions as: Colorant (CI 77402); antimicrobial agent (primarily biocidal, not cosmetic). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1317-39-1.

What is the Margin of Safety for Cuprous Oxide?

not established 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.

Is Cuprous Oxide classified as hazardous under GHS?

Cuprous Oxide carries a GHS signal word of "DANGER". Hazard statements: Harmful if swallowed or if inhaled Causes serious eye damage Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

Compliance Tools

Check Cuprous Oxide 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 55 jurisdictions

🧮

MoS Calculator

Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology

⚗️

Heavy Metal Limits

Compare limits across jurisdictions

Related Ingredients

CI 12480

Moderate

5-Amino-4-Chloro-o-Cresol

Moderate

CI 77220

Excellent

Solvent Red 3

Moderate

Lycopene

Excellent

Browse all 30,000+ ingredients →

📱

Is Cuprous Oxide 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 Cuprous Oxide in your formulation.

Ingredient Decoder MoS Calculator