Poloxamer 401

INCI: POLOXAMER 401

CAS Number
9003-11-6 (generic)
Function
Surfactant – cleansing, surfactant – emulsifying
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes CIR: safe as used (2008); 2 reported uses in body/hand creams (Pluronic L-121)

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

Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Trace 1,4-dioxane/EO/PO impurities possible. Very low HLB makes this the most lipophilic in the series with potential to interact with skin lipid barrier at elevated concentrations.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Poloxamer 401 safe in cosmetics?

Trace 1,4-dioxane/EO/PO impurities possible. Very low HLB makes this the most lipophilic in the series with potential to interact with skin lipid barrier at elevated concentrations. The EU classifies Poloxamer 401 as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Poloxamer 401 allowed in the EU?

Poloxamer 401 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Poloxamer 401 do in cosmetics?

Poloxamer 401 functions as: Surfactant – cleansing, surfactant – emulsifying. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9003-11-6 (generic).

What is the Margin of Safety for Poloxamer 401?

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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