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Salicylic acid

CAS 69-72-7 · 90/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 4 other CAS numbers

29656-58-4 · 7681-06-3 · 8052-31-1 · 1186130-36-8

Salicylic acid chemical structure

Concern score

90/100Critical concern driven by cmr.
High confidence

Salicylic acid in plain language

What it is

On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Calcium salicylate”.

Also known as Calcium salicylate · Magnesium salicylate · Mea- salicylate · Potassium salicylate · Sodium salicylate · Tea- salicylate

Show all 39 names

2-HYDROXYBENZOIC acid · Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy- · o-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID · 2-Carboxyphenol · 2-Hydroxybenzenecarboxylic acid · 2-hydroxy benzoic acid · Acide salicylique · Advanced Pain Relief Callus Removers · Compound w · Dr. scholl's callus removers · Duoplant · Freezone · Ionil · K-557 · Keralyt · Phenol-2-carboxylic acid · Psoriacid-S-stift · Retarder W · Rutranex · Salicyclic acid (SA) (Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-) · Salicylic acid collodion · Salicylic acid soap · Saligel · Salonil · Stri-Dex · Verrugon · acido salicilico · o-Carboxyphenol · o-hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid) · salicylic acid (content per tir) · salicylic acid (vapor pressure = 1.0) · Salicylicum acidum · acidum salicylicum

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a preservative, a skin-conditioning agent and an anti-seborrheic. Salicylic Acid is the aromatic acid.

  • Preservative
  • Skin conditioning
  • Anti-seborrheic
  • Hair conditioning
  • Keratolytic
  • Fragrance
Is it a concern?
Critical concern: classified for carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicity (CMR). It is restricted in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

  • Cmr

Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy- is restricted in cosmetic products under Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

RestrictedEU EC — restricted

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

Restrictions first, then routine listings from published regulatory sources.

  • In marketed US drugs
  • EU Annex III — restricted
  • EU restricted in cosmetics

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Beauty
  • Cleaning
  • Pharma
  • Food
  • Industrial

  • EUEC

    Annex III of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to the restrictions laid down. Product types: (a) Rinse-off hair products (b) Other products except body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, roll-on deodorant (c) Body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, roll-on deodorant Maximum concentration: (a) 3.0% (b) 2.0% (c) 0.5% Other conditions: (a) (b) (c) Not to be used in preparations for children under 3 years of age. Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user’s lungs by inhalation. Not to be used in oral products. For purposes other than inhibiting the development of micro-organisms in the product. This purpose has to be apparent from the presentation of the product. These levels are inclusive of any… Conditions of use and warnings: (a) (b) (c) Not to be used for children under 3 years of age* * Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age. CMR: Reprotoxic Cat. 2()

    restricted
    View source →
  • EUCosIngActive2 entries
    • Salicylic Acid is the aromatic acid that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III/98 V/3Source →
    • Cosmetics Regulation annex III / ref 98.Source →
  • EUEFSAEFSA opinionFlavouring Group Evaluation 52 (FGE.52): Consideration of hydroxy- and alkoxy substituted benzyl derivatives evaluated by JECFA (57th meeting) structurally related to benzyl alcohols, benzaldehydes, a related acetal, benzoic acids, and related esters evaluated by EFSA in FGE.20 (2005) (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) (EFSA AFC)
    • Flavouring Group Evaluation 52 (FGE.52): Consideration of hydroxy- and alkoxy substituted benzyl derivatives evaluated by JECFA (57th meeting) structurally related to benzyl alcohols, benzaldehydes, a related acetal, benzoic acids, and related esters evaluated by EFSA in FGE.20 (2005) (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) (EFSA AFC)Source →
  • GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
  • GLOBALJECFANO ADI ALLOCATEDJECFA evaluation lists ADI NO ADI ALLOCATED. Functional class: preservative.
    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI NO ADI ALLOCATED. Functional class: preservative.Source →
  • GLOBALJECFANo safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agentJECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.
    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 2110 composition records across product categories including Construction and building materials, Laboratory supplies, Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Deodorizer, Softener and conditioner.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 2110 composition records across product categories including Construction and building materials, Laboratory supplies, Cleaning products and household care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Preservative, Deodorizer, Softener and conditioner.Source →
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →
  • USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 1406 active drug products and 1460 total products.
    • FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 1406 active drug products and 1460 total products.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

  • SCCS

    EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

    No SCCS opinion on file.

  • CIR

    Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

    No CIR safety assessment on file.

  • EFSA

    European Food Safety Authority

    • Flavouring Group Evaluation 52 (FGE.52): Consideration of hydroxy- and alkoxy substituted benzyl derivatives evaluated by JECFA (57th meeting) structurally related to benzyl alcohols, benzaldehydes, a related acetal, benzoic acids, and related esters evaluated by EFSA in FGE.20 (2005) (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) (EFSA AFC)

      2008 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

  • JECFA

    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

    • JECFA evaluation record.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI NO ADI ALLOCATED. Functional class: preservative.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent. Functional class: flavouring agent.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Salicylic acid yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

10 data sources

Where this comes from

  • CosIng

    regulatory · updated 2026-09-23

    Open →

  • EU CosIng Cosmetics Regulation Annexes

    regulatory · updated 2023-12-07

    Open →

  • EFSA OpenFoodTox

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated october 14, 2015

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA National Drug Code Directory

    regulatory · updated 2029-08-02

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • WHO JECFA Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →

  • PubChem Live Enrichment

    chemistry · updated 2026-05-17

    Open →
Reference links (2)

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Salicylic acid in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

2,110

Named organisations

6

Construction and building materialsLaboratory suppliesCleaning products and household careFood and drugHome maintenanceRaw materials

Typical roles

PreservativeSkin conditioningAnti-seborrheicHair conditioningKeratolyticFragrance
See products using Salicylic acid →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Salicylic acid; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 1000+ →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Salicylic acid in the catalog.