Is Theanine safe in cosmetics?
Theanine has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
GOOD
Cosmetic Ingredient
Theanine
Also known as: EINECS 221-379-0, NSC 21308, Suntheanine, Theanin, UNII-8021PR16QO (+8 more)
INCI: THEANINE
Theanine (CAS 3081-61-6) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Skin Conditioning, Antioxidant. 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
Skin Conditioning, Antioxidant
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
(2S)-2-amino-5-(ethylamino)-5-oxopentanoic acid
InChIKey
DATAGRPVKZEWHA-YFKPBYRVSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Not specifically restricted; permitted under general cosmetic ingredient provisions; GRAS for food use
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Theanine.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Humectant
Softener and conditioner
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Theanine — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Known Synonyms
EINECS 221-379-0
NSC 21308
Suntheanine
Theanin
UNII-8021PR16QO
(+)-Theanine
2-amino-4-(ethylcarbamoyl)butanoic acid
L-Theanine
L-gamma-Glutamylethylamide
N-gamma-Ethyl-L-glutamine
N(5)-ethyl-L-glutamine
theanine zwitterion
N(5)-ethyl-L-glutamine zwitterion
Chemical Function
Humectant
Softener and conditioner
Regulatory Lists
Canada; pharmaceutical
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
THEANINE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL3039113
Max Phase
3
Adverse Event Associations
147
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives + fda_gras_enriched
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
L-Theanine
FDA GRAS
FDA has no questions
GRN
209
Food Category
sports_nutrition
Ingredient in several food categories up to 250 milligrams per serving
View full food safety profile →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Theanine allowed in the EU?
Theanine EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Theanine do in cosmetics?
Theanine functions as: Skin Conditioning, Antioxidant. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 3081-61-6.
Is Theanine used outside cosmetics?
Theanine 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 Theanine 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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(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
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(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
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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
THIMEROSAL
MODERATE
Browse nearby
Preservative
THYMUS LINEARIS LEAF/(ANGELICA GLAUCA/BERGENIA CILIATA) ROOT/PRINSEPIA UTILIS SEED EXTRACT
GOOD
Browse nearby
Skin Conditioning
THYMUS SERPYLLUM EXTRACT
GOOD
Browse nearby
Skin Conditioning
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