Excellent Cosmetic Ingredient GHS Classified Dermal Penetration

Hydroxyethylcellulose

INCI: HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE

CAS Number
9004-62-0
Function
rheology modifier, thickener, film-forming agent
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes CIR-assessed safe. Widely used across all cosmetic product types.

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.

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Short-term Exposure Effects
May cause mechanical irritation.

Dermal Penetration Profile

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

Absorption %
0%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
surface only
Molecular Weight
Variable Da
Log P
n/a
Systemic Absorption
no
Topical Bioavailability
0%
Safety Margin Factor
none

Source: CIR

Expert Verdict

Robust cellulose derivative thickener with pH range 2-12, excellent electrolyte tolerance, cold-water solubility, and full biodegradability. Exempt from EU REACH SPM restriction. Suitable as carbomer replacement for EU-compliant leave-on formulations at 0.5-2.0% use level.

⚠️
Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

eu-compliant biodegradable reach-spm-exempt natural-polymer nonionic electrolyte-tolerant cold-water-soluble carbomer-alternative cosmos-eligible cir-approved cross-linked-grades-available endocrine_disruptor eu_children_restricted epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hydroxyethylcellulose safe in cosmetics?

Robust cellulose derivative thickener with pH range 2-12, excellent electrolyte tolerance, cold-water solubility, and full biodegradability. Exempt from EU REACH SPM restriction. Suitable as carbomer replacement for EU-compliant leave-on formulations at 0.5-2.0% use level. The EU classifies Hydroxyethylcellulose as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is Hydroxyethylcellulose allowed in the EU?

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

What does Hydroxyethylcellulose do in cosmetics?

Hydroxyethylcellulose functions as: rheology modifier, thickener, film-forming agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9004-62-0.

What is the Margin of Safety for Hydroxyethylcellulose?

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.

Compliance Tools

Check Hydroxyethylcellulose 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 55 jurisdictions
 🧮
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
 ⚗️
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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