Fragrance avoidance
No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.
This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.
alpha-Arbutin
4-Hydroxyphenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside is restricted in cosmetic products under Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.
Research docs0Claims0Sources7FunctionAntioxidant • Bleaching agentIdentifier84380-01-8
Concern score
70/100High concern based on regulatory listings.
Well researched
How we scored this
The concern value reflects this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from the published classifications and regulatory status below — not the safety of a product it appears in. A score near 40 is the baseline for ingredients with no specific signal (water scores 40 by design), so a mid-range value is not a safety verdict.
Concern score 70/100 (high) · high confidence.
Regional restrictions
- EU — restricted · 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) Face cream (b) Body lotion Maximum concentration: (a) 2 % (b) 0,5 % Other conditions: Hydroquinone levels shall remain as low as possible in formulations containing alpha-Arbutin and shall not be higher than the unavoidable trace level. From 1 February 2025 cosmetic products containing that substance and not complying with the conditions shall not be placed on the Union market. From 1 November 2025 cosmetic products containing that substance and not complying with the conditions…
Where it appears
Prevalence of alpha-Arbutin in our catalog (epa_cpdat).
Products
21
Brands
6
Personal care
Typical roles
AntioxidantBleaching agentSoftener and conditioner
Catalog
Found in these products
Suitability
Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.
Good fit
Evidence read
The published evidence profile currently shaping this ingredient record.
No evidence profiles are attached to this ingredient yet.
Linked research
Primary documents currently linked to this ingredient record.
No linked research documents are attached to this ingredient yet.
Extracted claims
Structured claim signals pulled from linked ingredient research.
No extracted claims are attached to this ingredient yet.
Regulatory status
Published jurisdiction-level classifications and regulatory designations for this ingredient.
EU
EC
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) Face cream (b) Body lotion Maximum concentration: (a) 2 % (b) 0,5 % Other conditions: Hydroquinone levels shall remain as low as possible in formulations containing alpha-Arbutin and shall not be higher than the unavoidable trace level. From 1 February 2025 cosmetic products containing that substance and not complying with the conditions shall not be placed on the Union market. From 1 November 2025 cosmetic products containing that substance and not complying with the conditions…
Effective: 2024-04-04View source →
US
EPA
EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 21 composition records across product categories including Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Antioxidant, Softener and conditioner, Bleaching agent.
Effective: September 2018View source →
