Is Glycerin safe in cosmetics?
Glycerin has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.
Glycerin
Also known as: 1,2,3-Propanetriol, 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane, Propanetriol, 4-01-00-02751, 90 Technical glycerine (+14 more)
INCI: GLYCERIN
Glycerin (CAS 56-81-5) is a cosmetic humectant functioning as Humectant that attracts water from dermis and environment into the epidermis. NOAEL 800 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; 5 safety opinions reviewed (cir). Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 56-81-5 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Humectant that attracts water from dermis and environment into the epidermis. Also functions as solvent and viscosity modifier. Does not form an occlusive film.
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
FDA GRAS. CIR reviewed. One of the most used cosmetic humectants. Hygroscopic — pulls water into stratum corneum rather than forming a physical barrier.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Glycerin.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Glycerin. 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 | =1 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =1 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =1 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =1 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | developmental toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =950 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =950 mg/kg/d | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
cir
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 10 mg/kg (oral)
(Panel) reviewed relevant animal and human data. The Panel concluded that glycerin is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. Keywords cosmetics, safety, glycerin Introduction This is a review of the available scientific
cir
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 0.167 mg/L (inhalation)
(Panel) reviewed relevant animal and human data. The Panel concluded that glycerin is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. Keywords cosmetics, safety, glycerin Introduction This is a review of the available scientific
cir
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 0.167 mg/L (oral)
(Panel) reviewed relevant animal and human data. The Panel concluded that glycerin is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. Keywords cosmetics, safety, glycerin Introduction This is a review of the available scientific
cir
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 15 g/kg (oral)
(Panel) reviewed relevant animal and human data. The Panel concluded that glycerin is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. Keywords cosmetics, safety, glycerin Introduction This is a review of the available scientific
cir
Verdict: safe
NOAEL: 1310 mg/kg/d (oral)
(Panel) reviewed relevant animal and human data. The Panel concluded that glycerin is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment. Keywords cosmetics, safety, glycerin Introduction This is a review of the available scientific
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Glycerin across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Glycerin, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
5-12%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum/epidermis
Molecular Weight
92.1 Da
Log P
-1.76
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
3-10%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Source: CIR
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =1180 mg/kg-day | Rabbit | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1280 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1280 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1310 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1310 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1180 mg/kg-day | Rabbit | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1180 mg/kg-day | Rabbit | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| LC50 | >0.1425 mg/L | Rat | inhalation | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =7750 mg/kg | Guinea Pig | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =4090 mg/kg | Mouse | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
0.25%
DPRA Lys %
0.45%
KeratinoSens IC50
2000 µM
hCLAT CV75
5000 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
75%
NESIL
18750 µg/cm²
LLNA: NC (non-sensitizer)
GHS: not classified
Source: LLNA: Gerberick et al. (2005) | Gerberick et al. (1992); DPRA: Gerberick et al. 2007 [DOI:10.1093/toxsci/kfm064] | Bauch et al. 2012 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2012.05.013]; KS: Emter et al. 2010 [DOI:10.1016/j.taap.2010.03.009] | Bauch et al. 2012 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2012.05.013]; hCLAT: Ashikaga et al. 2010 [DOI:10.1177/026119291003800403] | Bauch et al. 2012 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2012.05.013]
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
1 human repeat insult patch test aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRIPT | - | 0 | - | - | - |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
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.
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (2)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCC | halal_prohibited | - | All cosmetics |
| GCC | halal_restricted | - | All cosmetics |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Roberts Skin Permeation (Mendeley 2022)
MW: 92.1
Log Kow: -1.8
Log Kp: -4.568636235841013
Log Jmax: -5.808947889606218
Source: Roberts_Cheruvu_Mendeley_2022
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 3–8 | 25 | CIR/VCRP |
| Body Lotion | 3–7 | 20 | CIR/VCRP |
| Shampoo | 1–3 | 5 | CIR/VCRP |
| Serum | 5–10 | 25 | CIR/VCRP |
| Hand Cream | 5–12 | 30 | CIR/VCRP |
| Cleanser | 1–5 | 10 | CIR/VCRP |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "56-81-5", "anti_acne_mechanism": "anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0-1", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "0-5", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "No limit", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": "No", "eu_cosmetic_restriction_…
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "56-81-5", "ingredient_class": "other", "primary_mechanism": "barrier_reinforcement", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_modulation": "no", "NF_kB_inhibition…
baby_pediatric
{"cas_number": "56-81-5", "ingredient_class": "moisturizer_baby", "pediatric_safety_rating": "excellent", "minimum_age_months": "0", "neonatal_safe": "yes", "premature_infant_safe": "yes", "skin_barrier_maturity_consideration": "GOLD STANDARD: Humectant, safe, well-tolerated, endogenous", "transepidermal_absorption_risk_pediatric": "very_low", "dose_per_kg_body_weight_concern": "Safe at all ages",…
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "0", "irritancy_rating": "0", "skin_type_suitability": "all,oily,dry,sensitive,combination,normal,acne-prone,mature,rosacea", "acne_safe": "yes", "source": "Gold standard humectant"}
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "5.0", "max_concentration_pct": "20.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "10.0", "product_type": "Sheet Mask", "function_at_concentration": "Hydration", "source": "CIR Safety Assessment"}
dermal_absorption
{"molecular_weight_da": "92.1", "log_p_value": "-1.76", "skin_penetration_level": "stratum-corneum", "penetration_depth": "stratum corneum/epidermis", "absorption_pct": "5-12", "systemic_absorption": "minimal", "penetration_enhancer": "yes", "occlusion_effect": "no", "vehicle_dependent": "no", "skin_barrier_effect": "strengthens", "bioavailability_topical_pct": "3-10", "safety_margin_factor": "low…
hair_care
{"hair_function": "moisturizing", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "all", "porosity_suitability": "all", "protein_sensitivity": "moisture", "moisture_protein_balance": "yes", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "yes", "color_safe": "neutral", "ker…
hair_conditioning
{"cas_number": "56-81-5", "ingredient_class": "polyol_humectant_hair", "chemical_type": "polyol", "substantivity_to_hair": "moderate", "deposition_from_shampoo": "yes", "deposition_from_conditioner": "yes", "conditioning_mechanism": "moisture_retention", "hair_penetration": "cuticle", "molecular_weight_effect_on_penetration": "small_molecule_humectant", "wet_combing_force_reduction_pct": "5-10", "…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-adhesive/cohesive
Anti-caking agent
Binder
Biocide
Drier
Dye
Emulsifier
Filler
Flavouring and nutrient
Foamant
Regulatory List Membership (6)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Glycerin.
Regulatory Flags
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Glycerin by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
42
Lowest NOAEL
1
Highest NOAEL
10000
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw/day, mg/kg, mg/kg/d
COSMOS_DB
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
CIR_vision_codex
Known Synonyms
1,2,3-Propanetriol
1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
Propanetriol
4-01-00-02751
90 Technical glycerine
BRN 0635685
Caswell No. 469
Citifluor AF 2
Dagralax
EINECS 200-289-5
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 063507
FEMA No. 2525
Glycerin, anhydrous
Glycerinum
Grocolene
Ophthalgan
Synthetic glycerin
Synthetic glycerine
Vitrosupos
Chemical Function
Solvent
Emulsifier
Humectant
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - specialized bath products - bath salts
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
children; Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - body wash
children; Europe; Personal care - hair styling and care - shampoo
children; Europe; Personal care - specialized bath products - bubble bath
children; Europe; Personal care - dental care - toothpaste
children; Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care - liniment
consumer_product; Europe
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
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.
Compound
GLYCERIN
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL692
Max Phase
4
Adverse Event Associations
940
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glycerin allowed in the EU?
Glycerin EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Glycerin do in cosmetics?
Glycerin functions as: Humectant that attracts water from dermis and environment into the epidermis. Also functions as solvent and viscosity modifier. Does not form an occlusive film.. It is classified as a Humectant in our database. CAS number: 56-81-5.
What is the NOAEL for Glycerin?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Glycerin is =1 mg/kg/d based on a developmental toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: CIR_vision_codex.
Is Glycerin used outside cosmetics?
Glycerin 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.
Compliance Tools
Check Glycerin compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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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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