Good Emollient

Isohexadecane

INCI: ISOHEXADECANE

CAS Number
4390-04-9
Function
emollient/solvent/vehicle
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Reviewed by CIR Expert Panel under IsoParaffins group assessment (2012). Concluded safe in present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics. No FDA cosmetic restrictions or prohibitions. Not a sunscreen active; functions as emollient/solvent/vehicle when present in sunscreen formulations.

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Isohexadecane is a branched C16 isoalkane evaluated within the CIR IsoParaffins group assessment (2012). The CIR Expert Panel concluded it is safe in present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics. No specific maximum concentration limit exists; formulation guidance ranges are 1-60% depending on product type. No phototoxicity or photoallergy concern.

โš ๏ธ
Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

eu-unrestricted cir-approved no-sccs-opinion ifra_fragrance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Isohexadecane safe in cosmetics?

Isohexadecane is a branched C16 isoalkane evaluated within the CIR IsoParaffins group assessment (2012). The CIR Expert Panel concluded it is safe in present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics. No specific maximum concentration limit exists; formulation guidance ranges are 1-60% depending on product type. No phototoxicity or photoallergy concern. The EU classifies Isohexadecane as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Isohexadecane allowed in the EU?

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

What does Isohexadecane do in cosmetics?

Isohexadecane functions as: emollient/solvent/vehicle. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 4390-04-9.

What is the Margin of Safety for Isohexadecane?

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.

๐Ÿ“ฑ

Is Isohexadecane in Your Products?

Scan any product label with Piro โ€” our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.

Try Piro Free โ†’

Analyze Your Full Ingredient List

Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Isohexadecane in your formulation.