Phenoxyethyl PCA

INCI: PHENOXYETHYL PCA

Phenoxyethyl PCA (CAS 835913-42-3) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Preservative booster; humectant (PCA = pyrrolidone carboxylic acid ester). EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.

View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 835913-42-3 →

Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Preservative booster; humectant (PCA = pyrrolidone carboxylic acid ester)
Safety Rating
GOOD

Chemistry & Identifiers

Formula
C13H15NO4
MW
249.26 g/mol
PubChem CID
72941918
IUPAC Name
2-phenoxyethyl (2S)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate
InChIKey
IBJOBFSVAQOVRA-NSHDSACASA-N

Regulatory Status

EU EU Status permitted
US US Status permitted
US Notes Not specifically restricted by FDA; marketed as a preservation-boosting ingredient

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Phenoxyethyl PCA.

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Phenoxyethyl PCA.

Regulatory Flags

preservative natural-origin

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phenoxyethyl PCA safe in cosmetics?

Phenoxyethyl PCA has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.

Is Phenoxyethyl PCA allowed in the EU?

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

What does Phenoxyethyl PCA do in cosmetics?

Phenoxyethyl PCA functions as: Preservative booster; humectant (PCA = pyrrolidone carboxylic acid ester). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 835913-42-3.

Related Ingredients

Dipotassium EDTA
Excellent Same category
Chelating agent; preservative booster
Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate
Excellent Same category
Emulsifier; Humectant; Softener and c...
Hexanediol (1,2-Hexanediol)
Excellent Same category
Solvent, humectant, emollient, preser...
Phenethyl Alcohol
Excellent Same category
Fragrance ingredient; preservative (a...
Polyepsilon-Lysine
Excellent Same category
Preservative (antimicrobial); hair co...
Sodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphate
Excellent Same category
Antistatic, cleansing, foaming, hair ...
(AGARICUS BLAZEI FERMENT + GANODERMA LUCIDUM FERMENT + GANODERMA MULTIPILEUM FERMENT) EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
Anti-sebum, Antioxidant, Skin Protecting
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
Good Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Pr...
(ANGELICA KEISKEI/CHRYSANTHEMUM ZAWADSKII) LEAF/STEM/CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/TRICHOSANTES KIRILOWII FRUIT/ULMUS DAVIDIANA BARK/ROOT/(PAEONIA JAPONICA/BUPLEURUM FALCATUM/POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA ROOT)/VISCUS ALBUM STEM EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
Anti-seborrheic, Anti-sebum, Antioxid...
(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
Antioxidant
PHELLODENDRON AMURENSE BARK/GARDENIA FLORIDA FRUIT/(COPTIS JAPONICA/DIOSCOREA JAPONICA/LICORICE/PAEONIA SUFFRUTICOSA/PUERARIA LOBATA/REHMANNIA CHINENSIS/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS/SOPHORA FLAVESCENS ROOT) WATER
Good Browse nearby
Skin Conditioning - Miscellaneous
PHELLODENDRON AMURENSE BARK/HONEYSUCKLE FLOWER/(ECLIPTA PROSTRATA/MENTHA ARVENSIS LEAF)/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT
Good Browse nearby
Skin Conditioning
PHMB Cosmetic
Moderate Browse nearby
Preservative

Is Phenoxyethyl PCA 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 Phenoxyethyl PCA in your formulation.