Is Dextrin safe in cosmetics?
Dextrin has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
EXCELLENT
Cosmetic Ingredient
Dextrin
Also known as: Dextrins, Fungal amylase starch, Hydrolysed dextrin, Potato dextrin, Pyrodextrin (+3 more)
INCI: DEXTRIN
Dextrin (CAS 9004-53-9) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Binding agent, film forming, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling. NOAEL 6000 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 and food safety data.
Function
Binding agent, film forming, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling
Editorial assessment
EXCELLENT
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
(3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2R,3S,4R,5R)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol
InChIKey
FYGDTMLNYKFZSV-MRCIVHHJSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted — FDA GRAS food additive; CIR Expert Panel concluded safe as used in cosmetics (Polysaccharide Gums assessment)
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Dextrin.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Dextrin across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEL | >=4200 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | =6000 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | >=4200 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | >=4400 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | =6000 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | =6000 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | =6000 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | >=4400 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | >=4400 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
| LEL | >=4400 mg/kg-day | Rat | injection | short-term | ECHA |
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Regulatory (1)
JECFA Evaluation
WHITE AND YELLOW DEXTRINS | 2018 | NOT SPECIFIED | Considered for specification only. | ">TRS 1014-JECFA 86/65 | FAO JECFA Monographs 22/53
Source: WHO/JECFA
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Absorbent
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Anti-caking agent
Binder
Drier
Filler
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Humectant
Lubricating agent
Regulatory List Membership (3)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Dextrin — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
potential-allergen
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
Known Synonyms
Dextrins
Fungal amylase starch
Hydrolysed dextrin
Potato dextrin
Pyrodextrin
Starch, dextrinized
Starch gum
Tapioca Dextrin 11
Chemical Function
Filler
Pharmaceutical disintegrant
Absorbent
Viscosity modifier
Binder
Regulatory Lists
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
IFRA Transparency
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
SCIL (9/2019)
Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - laundry detergent; Europe
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in food safety data.
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives + fda_gras_enriched
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Dextrin (mildly sweet)
FDA GRAS
FDA has no Questions
GRN
1045
Food Category
sweetener
Intended for use as a source of dietary fiber at maximum levels ranging from 1.2 to 10 g per serving in baked goods; beverages; cereals and granola bars; condiments and dressings; confections; dairy products; frozen desserts; gravies and sauces; meal...
View full food safety profile →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dextrin allowed in the EU?
Dextrin EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Dextrin do in cosmetics?
Dextrin functions as: Binding agent, film forming, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9004-53-9.
Is Dextrin used outside cosmetics?
Dextrin also appears in industrial chemical safety and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Dextrin 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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