Excellent Cosmetic Ingredient Dermal Penetration

Lycopene

INCI: LYCOPENE

CAS Number
502-65-8 [^1_4]
Function
Antioxidant, colorant (CI 75125)
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted โ€” GRAS status for food use (GRN 000119); no specific cosmetic restriction under 21 CFR

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Dermal Penetration Profile

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

Absorption %
0.5-2%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
536.9 Da
Log P
15.7
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
0.2-1%
Safety Margin Factor
minimal
Vehicle Dependent
Yes โ€” absorption varies by formulation

Source: Exp Dermatol 2001

Expert Verdict

Oxidation-sensitive with degradation under light and heat exposure. Not classified as PBT or vPvB. Extensive food-safety data supports cosmetic use.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

colorant

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lycopene safe in cosmetics?

Oxidation-sensitive with degradation under light and heat exposure. Not classified as PBT or vPvB. Extensive food-safety data supports cosmetic use. The EU classifies Lycopene as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is Lycopene allowed in the EU?

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

What does Lycopene do in cosmetics?

Lycopene functions as: Antioxidant, colorant (CI 75125). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 502-65-8 [^1_4].

What is the Margin of Safety for Lycopene?

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.

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