Excellent Active Ingredient Dermal Penetration

Phytosphingosine

INCI: PHYTOSPHINGOSINE

CAS Number
554-62-1
Function
Skin-conditioning agent, ceramide precursor, anti-inflammatory sphingoid base; bioconverted to ceramides in skin; broad-spectrum antimicrobial; reduces inflammation
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes No FDA concentration limits. Classified as cosmetic ingredient. Ceramide precursor with established use in barrier repair formulations. Anti-inflammatory properties documented.

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Dermal Penetration Profile

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

Absorption %
4-10%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
317.5 Da
Log P
3.2
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
2-8%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes โ€” absorption varies by formulation

Source: J Lipid Res 2003

Expert Verdict

Phytosphingosine is an endogenous ceramide precursor that is bioconverted to ceramides in the skin's biosynthesis pathway, addressing ceramide depletion in aging skin while providing anti-inflammatory benefits. No regulatory restrictions in EU or US with excellent safety profile and tolerability.

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Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

ceramide-precursor anti-inflammatory barrier-repair sphingoid-base ceramide-depletion-postmenopausal menopausal-skin-target biosynthesis-support

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phytosphingosine safe in cosmetics?

Phytosphingosine is an endogenous ceramide precursor that is bioconverted to ceramides in the skin's biosynthesis pathway, addressing ceramide depletion in aging skin while providing anti-inflammatory benefits. No regulatory restrictions in EU or US with excellent safety profile and tolerability. The EU classifies Phytosphingosine as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is Phytosphingosine allowed in the EU?

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

What does Phytosphingosine do in cosmetics?

Phytosphingosine functions as: Skin-conditioning agent, ceramide precursor, anti-inflammatory sphingoid base; bioconverted to ceramides in skin; broad-spectrum antimicrobial; reduces inflammation. It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 554-62-1.

What is the Margin of Safety for Phytosphingosine?

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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