Regulatory Status
For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
4 study endpoints found for Lauric Acid. 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 | 5000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Subchronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 2500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| dose_tested | 5000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Subchronic | COSMOS_DB |
| dose_tested | 2500 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
Expert Verdict
Primary fatty acid of virgin coconut oil with clinical evidence of superior TEWL reduction compared to mineral oil in atopic dermatitis. Antimicrobial activity occurs via membrane disruption; however, must be avoided in Malassezia folliculitis-prone formulations as C12 fatty acids serve as substrates for this fungus.
Regulatory Flags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lauric Acid safe in cosmetics?
Primary fatty acid of virgin coconut oil with clinical evidence of superior TEWL reduction compared to mineral oil in atopic dermatitis. Antimicrobial activity occurs via membrane disruption; however, must be avoided in Malassezia folliculitis-prone formulations as C12 fatty acids serve as substrates for this fungus. The EU classifies Lauric Acid as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Is Lauric Acid allowed in the EU?
Lauric Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Lauric Acid do in cosmetics?
Lauric Acid functions as: Saturated long-chain fatty acid (C12:0). Dominant fatty acid in virgin coconut oil (approximately 46-48%). Primary antimicrobial component via membrane disruption. Functions as emollient, skin-conditioning agent, and antimicrobial agent.. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 143-07-7.
What is the Margin of Safety for Lauric Acid?
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.
What is the NOAEL for Lauric Acid?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Lauric Acid is 5000 mg/kg bw/day based on a Subchronic study via oral route in rat. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Compliance Tools
Check Lauric Acid compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Related Ingredients
Is Lauric Acid in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Lauric Acid in your formulation.