Is Phosphatidylcholine safe in cosmetics?
Phosphatidylcholine has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Excellent
Emulsifier
Phosphatidylcholine
INCI: PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE
Phosphatidylcholine (CAS 8002-43-5) is a cosmetic emulsifier functioning as Principal phospholipid emulsifier and bilayer-forming material for cosmetic. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 8002-43-5 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
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 EU Status
permitted
US 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 multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Phosphatidylcholine.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Phosphatidylcholine.
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 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.
Compliance Tools
Check Phosphatidylcholine compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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