Is Hexamidine safe in cosmetics?
Hexamidine has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.
Hexamidine
Also known as: Benzenecarboximidamide, 4,4'-[1,6-hexanediylbis(oxy)]bis-, Benzamidine, 4,4'-(hexamethylenedioxy)di, 1,6-Bis(4-amidinophenoxy)-n-hexane, 1,6-Bis(4-amidinophenoxy)hexane, 4,4-Diamidino-1,6-diphenoxyhexane (+7 more)
INCI: HEXAMIDINE
Hexamidine (CAS 3811-75-4) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Preservative / antimicrobial (biocide). Reported NOAEL =50 mg/kg/day in rat (CIR_vision_codex); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 0.1%; 2 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 data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 3811-75-4 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Preservative / antimicrobial (biocide)
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
4-[6-(4-carbamimidoylphenoxy)hexoxy]benzenecarboximidamide
InChIKey
OQLKNTOKMBVBKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
0.1%
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted — no specific CFR restriction; CIR assessed as safe as used
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Hexamidine.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
4 study endpoints found for Hexamidine. 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 | =50 mg/kg/day | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =50 mg/kg/day | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =50 mg/kg/day | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
| NOAEL | =50 mg/kg/day | oral | rat | repeated dose toxicity | CIR_vision_codex |
Safety Opinions
Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).
cir
Verdict: unknown
NOAEL: 50 mg/kg/day (dermal)
cir
Verdict: unknown
NOAEL: 0.4 % (dermal)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Preservative
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Hexamidine.
Regulatory Flags
preservative
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Hexamidine by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
4
Lowest NOAEL
50 mg/kg/day
Highest NOAEL
50 mg/kg/day
CIR_vision_codex
Known Synonyms
Benzenecarboximidamide, 4,4'-[1,6-hexanediylbis(oxy)]bis-
Benzamidine, 4,4'-(hexamethylenedioxy)di
1,6-Bis(4-amidinophenoxy)-n-hexane
1,6-Bis(4-amidinophenoxy)hexane
4,4-Diamidino-1,6-diphenoxyhexane
Desmodine
Hexamidine (antiseptic)
4,4'-(1,6-Hexanediylbis(oxy))bis-benzenecarboximidamide
Hexamidina
Hexamidinum
UNII-3483C2H13H
4,4'-(Hexamethylenedioxy)dibenzamidine
Chemical Function
Preservative
Regulatory Lists
pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hexamidine allowed in the EU?
Hexamidine EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.1%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Hexamidine do in cosmetics?
Hexamidine functions as: Preservative / antimicrobial (biocide). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 3811-75-4.
What is the NOAEL for Hexamidine?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Hexamidine is =50 mg/kg/day based on a repeated dose toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: CIR_vision_codex.
Is Hexamidine used outside cosmetics?
Hexamidine also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Hexamidine compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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