Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA)

INCI: 2-PYRROLIDONE-5-CARBOXYLIC ACID

CAS Number
98-79-3 (L-form); 149-87-1 (DL-form)
Function
Humectant, moisturizing agent
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes CIR reviewed and concluded safe as used at concentrations up to 4%; reported in 106 formulations (2014 VCRP), max 1.9% in leave-on

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.

Expert Verdict

Essentially no concerns. Endogenous skin component. CIR Panel reaffirmed safety in 2019 reassessment. Sodium PCA is used in 1,289 formulations

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Concern Level: None

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA) safe in cosmetics?

Essentially no concerns. Endogenous skin component. CIR Panel reaffirmed safety in 2019 reassessment. Sodium PCA is used in 1,289 formulations The EU classifies Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA) as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA) allowed in the EU?

Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA) EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA) do in cosmetics?

Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA) functions as: Humectant, moisturizing agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 98-79-3 (L-form); 149-87-1 (DL-form).

What is the Margin of Safety for Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA)?

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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