Ibuprofen

INCI: IBUPROFEN

CAS Number
15687-27-1 [^1_9]
Function
Anti-inflammatory (pharmaceutical active — NSAID)
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status prohibited
🇺🇸 US Status prohibited
US Notes Drug ingredient — regulated under OTC Drug Monograph (21 CFR 201); not a permitted cosmetic ingredient without drug classification

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
high
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Not a permitted cosmetic ingredient. Ibuprofen is classified as a drug ingredient under both EU and US regulations; products containing ibuprofen with anti-inflammatory claims are medicinal products. Reproductive toxicity concerns including potential fetal harm, gastrointestinal and renal toxicity with systemic absorption.

⚠️
Concern Level: High

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ibuprofen safe in cosmetics?

Not a permitted cosmetic ingredient. Ibuprofen is classified as a drug ingredient under both EU and US regulations; products containing ibuprofen with anti-inflammatory claims are medicinal products. Reproductive toxicity concerns including potential fetal harm, gastrointestinal and renal toxicity with systemic absorption. The EU classifies Ibuprofen as "prohibited". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Ibuprofen allowed in the EU?

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

What does Ibuprofen do in cosmetics?

Ibuprofen functions as: Anti-inflammatory (pharmaceutical active — NSAID). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 15687-27-1 [^1_9].

What is the Margin of Safety for Ibuprofen?

not established 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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