Excellent Active Ingredient NOAEL Data Dermal Penetration

Glycine

INCI: GLYCINE

CAS Number
56-40-6
Function
Most abundant amino acid in collagen (every third residue in Gly-X-Y triplet). Improves visible signs of aging, enhances moisture retention, promotes collagen production, strengthens skin, and supports repair and regeneration.
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Assessed as safe by CIR Expert Panel. GRAS as a direct food additive.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

8 study endpoints found for Glycine. 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 10000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1600 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Carcinogenicity COSMOS_DB
LOAEL 1500 mg/kg bw/day 2400 rat other REACH
LOAEL 1561 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL >=600 mg/kg bw/day 2011 rat other REACH
NOAEL >=1000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL >=2000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat oral REACH
NOAEL >=1000 mg/kg bw/day oral - oral REACH

Dermal Penetration Profile

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

Absorption %
2-5%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
75.1 Da
Log P
-3.2
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
1-3%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes โ€” absorption varies by formulation

Source: CIR

Expert Verdict

Glycine is structurally essential for collagen stability and a well-tolerated cosmetic active with CIR-assessed safety and confirmed GRAS status. No restrictions or safety concerns at cosmetic use levels.

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Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

eu_children_restricted epa_safer_alternative fda_food_additive jecfa_safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glycine safe in cosmetics?

Glycine is structurally essential for collagen stability and a well-tolerated cosmetic active with CIR-assessed safety and confirmed GRAS status. No restrictions or safety concerns at cosmetic use levels. The EU classifies Glycine as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT. 8 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Glycine allowed in the EU?

Glycine EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Glycine do in cosmetics?

Glycine functions as: Most abundant amino acid in collagen (every third residue in Gly-X-Y triplet). Improves visible signs of aging, enhances moisture retention, promotes collagen production, strengthens skin, and supports repair and regeneration.. It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 56-40-6.

What is the Margin of Safety for Glycine?

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.

What is the NOAEL for Glycine?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Glycine is 10000 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 8 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

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