Excellent Emulsifier Dermal Penetration

Phosphatidylcholine

INCI: PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE

CAS Number
8002-43-5
Function
Principal phospholipid emulsifier and bilayer-forming material for cosmetic delivery systems. Sourced from soybean, sunflower, or egg lecithin. Forms liposomal vesicles for delivery of hydrophilic actives (vitamin C, caffeine) and lipophilic actives (CoQ10, vitamins A/E). Commercial purity grades range from ≥45% PC (lecithin fractions) to ≥94% PC (high-purity PHOSPHOLIPON 90 G type). COSMOS-approved non-GMO sunflower variants available.
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes FDA GRAS for food use. CIR reviewed and safe. Sunflower PC preferred for non-GMO/COSMOS compliance. Biocompatible, biodegradable, and minimally immunogenic.

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Dermal Penetration Profile

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

Absorption %
5-12%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum/epidermis
Molecular Weight
758.1 Da
Log P
5.5
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
3-10%
Safety Margin Factor
moderate
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation

Source: J Liposome Res 2012

Expert Verdict

High-purity phosphatidylcholine (≥94% PC grades) is the gold standard for cosmetic liposomal delivery systems. Biocompatible, biodegradable, and minimally immunogenic, enabling targeted delivery of both hydrophilic and lipophilic actives. Non-GMO sunflower-derived PC is preferred for sustainable, COSMOS-certifiable applications.

⚠️
Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

emulsifier liposomal-delivery biocompatible biodegradable non-gmo-sunflower-preferred cosmos-eligible penetration-enhancer delivery-system eu_children_restricted epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phosphatidylcholine safe in cosmetics?

High-purity phosphatidylcholine (≥94% PC grades) is the gold standard for cosmetic liposomal delivery systems. Biocompatible, biodegradable, and minimally immunogenic, enabling targeted delivery of both hydrophilic and lipophilic actives. Non-GMO sunflower-derived PC is preferred for sustainable, COSMOS-certifiable applications. The EU classifies Phosphatidylcholine as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is Phosphatidylcholine allowed in the EU?

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

What does Phosphatidylcholine do in cosmetics?

Phosphatidylcholine functions as: Principal phospholipid emulsifier and bilayer-forming material for cosmetic delivery systems. Sourced from soybean, sunflower, or egg lecithin. Forms liposomal vesicles for delivery of hydrophilic actives (vitamin C, caffeine) and lipophilic actives (CoQ10, vitamins A/E). Commercial purity grades range from ≥45% PC (lecithin fractions) to ≥94% PC (high-purity PHOSPHOLIPON 90 G type). COSMOS-approved non-GMO sunflower variants available.. It is classified as a Emulsifier in our database. CAS number: 8002-43-5.

What is the Margin of Safety for Phosphatidylcholine?

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.

Compliance Tools

Check Phosphatidylcholine compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

🔬
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
 🌸
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
 🧪
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
 🧮
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
 ⚗️
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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