Is RIBOFLAVIN safe in cosmetics?
RIBOFLAVIN has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 3 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
RIBOFLAVIN
Also known as: Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Aqua-Flave, Benzo(g)pteridine-2,4(3H,10H)-dione, 7,8-dimethyl-10-(D-ribo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentyl)-, Dermadram (+15 more)
RIBOFLAVIN (CAS 83-88-5) is a cosmetic colorant functioning as Colorant (CI 75170, yellow); antioxidant co-factor; skin conditioning. NOAEL 160 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Function
Colorant (CI 75170, yellow); antioxidant co-factor; skin conditioning
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
No standalone CIR cosmetic safety assessment identified. FDA-GRAS for food. Permitted colorant as CI 75170. Highly photosensitive — requires light-protective packaging (amber, opaque). Systemic B2 supplementation linked with potential acne exacerbation in susceptible individuals — topical relevance not established but worth noting for acne-prone claims.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for RIBOFLAVIN.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
3 study endpoints found for RIBOFLAVIN. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | 25 mg/kg bw/day | oral | dog | Subchronic | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 50 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Multigeneration Reproductive | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 400 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS DB |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for RIBOFLAVIN across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
4 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =160 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | EFSA |
| ADI | <=0.5 mg/kg | Human | oral | - | WHO/JECFA |
| LD50 | >10000 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | >40000 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ECHA |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Intermediate
Tonnage Band
Intermediate use only
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (1)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | permitted_colorant | - | All cosmetics (Class 1) |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Dye
Flavouring and nutrient
Pharmaceutical
Softener and conditioner
Regulatory List Membership (3)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for RIBOFLAVIN — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
colorant-ci-75170
highly-photosensitive
light-protective-packaging-required
formulation-instability
acne-exacerbation-systemic-concern
minimal-skin-active-function
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to RIBOFLAVIN by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
3
Lowest NOAEL
25 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
400 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS DB
Known Synonyms
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Aqua-Flave
Benzo(g)pteridine-2,4(3H,10H)-dione, 7,8-dimethyl-10-(D-ribo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentyl)-
Dermadram
EINECS 201-507-1
Fiboflavin
Hyflavin
Isoalloxazine, 7,8-dimethyl-10-D-ribityl-
Isoalloxazine, 7,8-dimethyl-10-(D-ribo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentyl)-
D-Ribitol, 1-deoxy-1-(3,4-dihydro-7,8-dimethyl-2,4-dioxobenzo(g)pteridin-10(2H)-yl)-
Riboflavinequinone
Vitamin Bi
Riboflavinum
UNII-TLM2976OFR
1-deoxy-1-(7,8-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]pteridin-10(2H)-yl)pentitol
6,7-Dimethyl-9-ribitylisoalloxazine
7,8-Dimethyl-10-(D-ribo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentyl)-Benzo[g]pteridine-2,4(3H,10H)-dione
7,8-dimethyl-10-(D-ribo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentyl)benzo[g]pteridine-2,4(3H,10H)-dione
7,8-dimethyl-10-[(2S,3S,4R)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentyl]-2H,3H,4H,10H-benzo[g]pteridine-2,4-dione
Chemical Function
Dye
Softener and conditioner
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
general_foods
pharmaceutical
Europe; supplements
Europe; food_additive; supplements
Europe; Personal care
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
active_ingredient; animal_products; Europe; pharmaceutical; residue
Europe; supplements
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
RIBOFLAVIN
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1534
Max Phase
4
Adverse Event Associations
4115
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Riboflavin
ADI
0-0.5 mg/kg bw mg/kg bw
Food Category
preservative
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RIBOFLAVIN allowed in the EU?
RIBOFLAVIN EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does RIBOFLAVIN do in cosmetics?
RIBOFLAVIN functions as: Colorant (CI 75170, yellow); antioxidant co-factor; skin conditioning. It is classified as a Colorant in our database. CAS number: 83-88-5.
What is the NOAEL for RIBOFLAVIN?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for RIBOFLAVIN is 25 mg/kg bw/day based on a Subchronic study via oral route in dog. A total of 3 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS DB.
Is RIBOFLAVIN used outside cosmetics?
RIBOFLAVIN also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check RIBOFLAVIN compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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