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 data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 138-59-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
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
Safety Rating
GOOD
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
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Shikimic Acid.
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
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 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
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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