Is Shikimic Acid safe in cosmetics?
Shikimic Acid has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
GOOD
Cosmetic Ingredient
Shikimic Acid
Also known as: Bracken fern toxic component, 1-Cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-, (3R-(3alpha,4alpha,5beta))-, EINECS 205-334-2, 3,4,5-Trihydroxy-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid, UNII-29MS2WI2NU (+8 more)
INCI: SHIKIMIC ACID
Shikimic Acid (CAS 138-59-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Exfoliant (gentle AHA), antioxidant, skin brightening, anti-inflammatory,. 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 and pharmaceutical data.
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Shikimic Acid is classified GHS Danger (H318) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu status; Chemicals: ghs classifications.signal word/hazard statement code
Function
Exfoliant (gentle AHA), antioxidant, skin brightening, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, deodorant
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
(3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid
InChIKey
JXOHGGNKMLTUBP-HSUXUTPPSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted for cosmetic use; no specific restrictions
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Shikimic Acid.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
IARC Carcinogenicity
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) monograph evaluation.
IARC Group
3
Volume
40, Sup 7
Evaluation Year
1987
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
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
Carcinogen Classification
Shikimic acid | Group 3: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | Volume 40: (1986) Some Naturally Occurring and Synthetic Food Components, Furocoumarins and Ultraviolet Radiation | Volume Sup 7: Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42, 1987; 440 pages; ISBN 92-832-1411-0 (out of print)
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Evidence for Carcinogenicity
No data are available in humans. Inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in animals. OVERALL EVALUATION: Group 3: The agent is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-dandruff
Deodorizer
Softener and conditioner
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Shikimic Acid — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Known Synonyms
Bracken fern toxic component
1-Cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-, (3R-(3alpha,4alpha,5beta))-
EINECS 205-334-2
3,4,5-Trihydroxy-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid
UNII-29MS2WI2NU
(-)-Shikimate
(3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid
3alpha,4alpha,5beta-trihydroxy-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid
L-Shikimate
Shikimate
Skikimate
Skikimic acid
[3R-(3alpha,4alpha,5beta)]-3,4,5-trihydroxy-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid
Chemical Function
Deodorizer
Softener and conditioner
Anti-dandruff
Regulatory Lists
pharmaceutical
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
SHIKIMIC ACID
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL290345
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shikimic Acid allowed in the EU?
Shikimic Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Shikimic Acid do in cosmetics?
Shikimic Acid functions as: Exfoliant (gentle AHA), antioxidant, skin brightening, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, deodorant. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 138-59-0.
Is Shikimic Acid used outside cosmetics?
Shikimic Acid also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Shikimic Acid have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Shikimic Acid is classified GHS Danger (H318) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Shikimic Acid compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
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
Related Ingredients
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
EXCELLENT
Same category
Softener and conditioner
3-Glyceryl Ascorbate
EXCELLENT
Same category
Antioxidant, Humectant, Skin Conditio...
Allantoin Ascorbate
EXCELLENT
Same category
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Skin ...
Aloe Vera Extract
EXCELLENT
Same category
Skin Conditioning, Antioxidant
Althaea Officinalis Callus Culture Extract
EXCELLENT
Same category
Antioxidant, skin protectant
Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Oil
EXCELLENT
Same category
Emollient, skin conditioning, antioxi...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
GOOD
Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Pr...
(ARCTIUM LAPPA/CARROT/COLOCASIA ESCULENTA/DIOSCOREA BATATAS/GARLIC/GINGER/IPOMOEA BATATAS/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/ONION/POTATO BULBS)/(CHESTNUT/CITRUS UNSHIU/EGGPLANT/FIG/GRAPE/KIWI/LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM/MALUS PUMILA/MUME/PEACH/PLUM/PUMPKIN/PYRUS SEROTINA/RADISH/ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA FRUIT)/(ALLIUM TUBEROSUM/ALOE BARBADENSIS/ANGELICA UTILIS/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CELERY/SACCHARINA JAPONICA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA LEAF)/(ALLIUM FISTULOSUM/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/OENANTHE JAVANICA STALK)/LENTINULA EDODES/SUCROSE FERMENT FILTRATE
GOOD
Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning - Humect...
(ASPERGILLUS/SACCHAROMYCES)/RICE FERMENT/BARLEY GRAIN MEAL/NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT FERMENT EXTRACT FILTRATE
GOOD
Similar safety
Bleaching
(ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS (LICORICE)/PANAX GINSENG) ROOT/AMOMUM XANTHIOIDES SEED/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/ARALIA CORDATA/ACHYRANTHES JAPONICA EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
Skin Conditioning - Miscellaneous
1-Methyl-4-methylvinyl-cyclohexene
MODERATE
Chemical family
Perfuming, solvent
Butyl Lactate
EXCELLENT
Chemical family
Fragrance, Solvent
Cetrimonium Tosylate
MODERATE
Chemical family
Antimicrobial, Antistatic, Hair Condi...
Is Shikimic Acid in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Shikimic Acid in your formulation.