Excellent Antioxidant Dermal Penetration

Glutathione

CAS Number
70-18-8
Function
Fragrance; Reducing agent
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
EU Max Conc. 0.1โ€“2%
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted in cosmetics; no FDA restrictions; used in anti-aging, brightening, and anti-pollution formulations; liposomal and encapsulated forms preferred for topical bioavailability

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Dermal Penetration Profile

Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Glutathione, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.

Absorption %
0.5-2%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
307.3 Da
Log P
-3.5
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
0.2-1%
Safety Margin Factor
minimal
Vehicle Dependent
Yes โ€” absorption varies by formulation

Source: J Cosmet Dermatol 2017

Expert Verdict

Glutathione is the master intracellular antioxidant and central mediator of phase II detoxification, enabling skin to metabolize and neutralize reactive pollutant metabolites. Topical delivery is the primary challenge; liposomal reduced glutathione (L-GSH) or S-acetyl-glutathione forms are recommended for cosmetic formulations. Synergizes with vitamin C and niacinamide; combine with ectoin and vitamin C for comprehensive oxidative defense and phase II detox support.

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Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

anti-pollution phase-ii-detox master-antioxidant tripeptide skin-brightening liposomal-preferred stability-sensitive pollutant-metabolite-quencher vitamin-c-synergy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glutathione safe in cosmetics?

Glutathione is the master intracellular antioxidant and central mediator of phase II detoxification, enabling skin to metabolize and neutralize reactive pollutant metabolites. Topical delivery is the primary challenge; liposomal reduced glutathione (L-GSH) or S-acetyl-glutathione forms are recommended for cosmetic formulations. Synergizes with vitamin C and niacinamide; combine with ectoin and vitamin C for comprehensive oxidative defense and phase II detox support. The EU classifies Glutathione as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is Glutathione allowed in the EU?

Glutathione EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.1โ€“2%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Glutathione do in cosmetics?

Glutathione functions as: Fragrance; Reducing agent. It is classified as a Antioxidant in our database. CAS number: 70-18-8.

What is the Margin of Safety for Glutathione?

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.

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