The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) recently scrutinized several ingredients, commonly used in various cosmetics products.
Regarding Salicylic acid, in a corrigendum from June 2019 to the previously adopted opinion in December 2018, the SCCS concluded that the ingredient is safe when used as a preservative at a concentration of 0.5% in cosmetic products.
For purposes other than as a preservative, Salicylic acid can be used with the following restrictions:
1. Up to 3.0% for cosmetic rinse-off hair products,
2. Up to 0,5% in body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and roll on deodorant applications,
3. Up to 2.0% for other products.
The SCCS also noted that this opinion is not extendable to sprayable formulations, oral products (except lipsticks), as well as to other salicylates or salicylic acid salts.
Acetylated Vetiver Oil, a fragrance used in perfumes and cosmetics, was also put again under the microscope by the SCCS. In a corrigendum from June 2019 to the previous opinion, Acetylated Vetiver Oil with 1% alpha-tocopherol was considered safe to be used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetic leave-on and rinse-off products at the concentrations proposed by IFRA.
The opinion on Methylimidazoliumpropyl p-phenylenediamine HCl was issued at the SCCS’ 30-31 October plenary meeting. This ingredient was considered as safe for use in oxidative hair colouring products, up to a maximum on-head concentration of 2%.
As for Hydroxyethoxyphenyl Butanone (HEPB), in the Opinion adopted on 5 March 2019, the committee concluded it is safe to use as a cosmetic preservative in oral care, rinse-off, and leave-on cosmetic products with a maximum concentration of 0.7 %.
The opinion on hydroxypropyl p-phenylenediamine and its dihydrochloride salt was also released. These ingredients have shown potential genotoxicity, and, as such, the committee considered these ingredients not safe to be used in oxidative hair colouring products.
Further opinions will follow, focussing on the safe use of nanomaterials:
1. Platinum, Colloidal Platinum, Gold, Colloidal Gold and Acetyl tetrapeptide-17 Colloidal Platinum in leave-on and rinse off cosmetic products
&
2. Gold Thioethylamino Hyaluronic Acid and Acetyl heptapeptide-9 Colloidal gold in leave-on products.
As a cosmetic products manufacturer, it is crucial to stay up to date with the most recent news – as such, be sure not to miss our updates!
3-12-2019
Ana Rita Falcão
Regulatory Affairs department
Should you wish to know more, do not hesitate to contact us for more information. Obelis experts will gladly assist you in ensuring compliance of your cosmetic products for the EU market!