Good Colorant NOAEL Data GHS Classified

RIBOFLAVIN

CAS Number
83-88-5
Function
Colorant (CI 75170, yellow); antioxidant co-factor; skin conditioning
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 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.

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Safety Data

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

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

10 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 400 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 400 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 400 mg/kg bw/day oral dog Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 400 mg/kg bw/day oral cat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 400 mg/kg bw/day oral rabbit Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 25 mg/kg bw/day oral dog Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 50 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Multigeneration Reproductive COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 10 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Reproductive COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 4 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Reproductive COSMOS_DB
dose_tested 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.

Expert Verdict

Riboflavin is primarily a yellow colorant (CI 75170) with limited skin-active function. Severe photosensitivity is its defining limitation—formulations must use light-protective packaging or the ingredient will degrade rapidly, losing color and co-factor benefit. Systemic B2-acne link not confirmed topically but creates labeling concern for acne-prone products. Use for aesthetic color only; address photostability proactively.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RIBOFLAVIN safe in cosmetics?

Riboflavin is primarily a yellow colorant (CI 75170) with limited skin-active function. Severe photosensitivity is its defining limitation—formulations must use light-protective packaging or the ingredient will degrade rapidly, losing color and co-factor benefit. Systemic B2-acne link not confirmed topically but creates labeling concern for acne-prone products. Use for aesthetic color only; address photostability proactively. The EU classifies RIBOFLAVIN as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

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 Margin of Safety for RIBOFLAVIN?

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.

What is the NOAEL for RIBOFLAVIN?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for RIBOFLAVIN is 400 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in mouse. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

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