Is Lactoferrin safe in cosmetics?
Lactoferrin has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Cosmetic Ingredient
Lactoferrin
Also known as: Lactoferricin B, L-Phenylalanine, L-phenylalanyl-L-lysyl-L-cysteinyl-L-arginyl-L-arginyl-L-tryptophyl-L-glutaminyl-L-tryptophyl-L-arginyl-L-methionyl-L-lysyl-L-lysyl-L-leucylglycyl-L-alanyl-L-prolyl-L-seryl-L-isoleucyl-L-threonyl-L-cysteinyl-L-valyl-L-arginyl-L-arginyl-L-alanyl-, cyclic (3→20)-disulfide, 1H,16H-Pyrrolo[2,1-p][1,2,5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26,29,32,35,38,41,44,47,50,53]dithiaheptadecaazacyclohexapentacontine, cyclic peptide deriv., MONL 03
INCI: LACTOFERRIN
Lactoferrin (CAS 146897-68-9) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Hair conditioning agent, Skin conditioning agent, Antimicrobial,. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. 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 146897-68-9 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Hair conditioning agent, Skin conditioning agent, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(3S,9S,12S,15S,18S,21S,24S,27S,30S,33S,36S,39R,44R,47S,50S,53S,56S)-39-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-amino-3-phenylpropanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-12,15-bis(4-aminobutyl)-27-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-50-[(2S)-butan-2-yl]-21,33,36-tris(3-carbamimidamidopropyl)-47-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-53-(hydroxymethyl)-24,30-bis(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-3-methyl-9-(2-methylpropyl)-18-(2-methylsulfanylethyl)-2,5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26,29,32,35,38,46,49,52,55-heptadecaoxo-41,42-dithia-1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25,28,31,34,37,45,48,51,54-heptadecazabicyclo[54.3.0]nonapentacontane-44-carbonyl]amino]-3-methylbutanoyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamidopentanoyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamidopentanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]-3-phenylpropanoic acid
InChIKey
PHEGMCHJJYMADA-IKGCZBKSSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
No CIR safety assessment has been published for lactoferrin. Not listed as prohibited or restricted under 21 CFR for cosmetic use. Bovine lactoferrin (CAS 146897-68-9) holds FDA GRAS Notice No. GRN 000077 for food applications. Subject to general ingredient safety obligations under MoCRA. Formulator carries full safety substantiation burden with no CIR guidance to reference.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Lactoferrin.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Additional Ingredient Properties
7 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "146897-68-9", "anti_acne_mechanism": "antibacterial/anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "p_acnes_mic_ug_per_ml": "50-200", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "5-10", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "No limit", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functi…
amino_acid
{"cas_number": "146897-68-9", "ingredient_class": "protein", "source_origin": "animal", "molecular_weight_range_Da": "80000", "amino_acid_composition_key": "iron_binding_glycoprotein", "isoelectric_point": "8.7", "charge_at_pH_5_5": "cationic", "water_solubility": "soluble", "oil_solubility": "insoluble", "film_forming_ability": "moderate", "moisture_binding_capacity": "good", "NMF_component": "no…
anti_aging
{"anti_aging_claim": "anti-inflammatory, barrier-repair", "mechanism_of_action": "Enzymatic activity, targeted protein modification", "target_skin_layer": "epidermis, dermis", "collagen_stimulation": "Moderate", "elastin_protection": "Moderate", "wrinkle_reduction_pct": "8-15", "clinical_study_duration_weeks": "8", "sample_size": "25", "double_blind": "No", "placebo_controlled": "Yes", "published_…
deodorant
{"cas_number": "146897-68-9", "ingredient_class": "antimicrobial_deodorant", "mechanism_of_action": "bacterial_growth_inhibition", "antiperspirant_efficacy_sweat_reduction_pct": "0", "deodorant_efficacy_hours": "12-24", "odor_reduction_pct": "50-70", "bacteriostatic": "yes", "bactericidal": "yes", "target_bacteria": "broad_spectrum", "microbiome_impact": "selective", "axillary_microbiome_effect": …
microbiome
{"cas_number": "1415-73-2", "ingredient_class": "antimicrobial_peptide", "microbial_source_genus": "other", "microbial_source_species": "bovine", "fermentation_substrate": "milk", "live_organism_content": "no", "bioactive_components": "antimicrobial_peptide/glycoproteins", "molecular_weight_range_Da": "80000", "pH_of_ingredient": "7.5-8.5", "mechanism_of_action": "AMP_production/immune_modulation"…
preservative
{"preservative_class": "Peptide", "antimicrobial_spectrum_bacteria_gp": "Good", "antimicrobial_spectrum_bacteria_gn": "Good", "antimicrobial_spectrum_yeast": "Moderate", "antimicrobial_spectrum_mold": "Weak", "mic_staph_aureus_ppm": "200", "mic_e_coli_ppm": "180", "mic_pseudomonas_ppm": "250", "mic_candida_albicans_ppm": "600", "mic_aspergillus_niger_ppm": "1200", "challenge_test_pass_concentratio…
skin_suitability
{"oily_skin": "acceptable", "dry_skin": "acceptable", "sensitive_skin": "acceptable", "combination_skin": "acceptable", "normal_skin": "acceptable", "acne_prone": "acceptable", "rosacea": "acceptable", "eczema": "acceptable", "hyperpigmentation": "acceptable", "aging_mature": "acceptable", "dehydrated": "acceptable", "skin_benefit_primary": "antimicrobial", "skin_benefit_secondary": "anti-inflamma…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Biocide
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Lactoferrin.
Regulatory Flags
no-sccs-opinion
no-cir-review
no-mos-calculable
no-dermal-absorption-data
animal-derived
bovine-milk-origin
high-molecular-weight
data-gap
Known Synonyms
Lactoferricin B
L-Phenylalanine, L-phenylalanyl-L-lysyl-L-cysteinyl-L-arginyl-L-arginyl-L-tryptophyl-L-glutaminyl-L-tryptophyl-L-arginyl-L-methionyl-L-lysyl-L-lysyl-L-leucylglycyl-L-alanyl-L-prolyl-L-seryl-L-isoleucyl-L-threonyl-L-cysteinyl-L-valyl-L-arginyl-L-arginyl-L-alanyl-, cyclic (3→20)-disulfide
1H,16H-Pyrrolo[2,1-p][1,2,5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26,29,32,35,38,41,44,47,50,53]dithiaheptadecaazacyclohexapentacontine, cyclic peptide deriv.
MONL 03
Chemical Function
Biocide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lactoferrin allowed in the EU?
Lactoferrin EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Lactoferrin do in cosmetics?
Lactoferrin functions as: Hair conditioning agent, Skin conditioning agent, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 146897-68-9.
Is Lactoferrin used outside cosmetics?
Lactoferrin 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
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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