Used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning agent, a hair conditioner and an antistatic agent.

Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

beauty
food
pharma

Lysine

CAS 12798-06-0 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 10 other CAS numbers

20166-34-1 · 6899-06-5 · 48050-57-3 · 280114-50-3 · 1150316-18-9 · 1153953-95-7 · 2087491-46-9 · 2139267-51-7 · 2566526-81-4 · 56-87-1

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Lysine in plain language

What it is: Also known as L-lysine · L-Lysine · (+)-s-lysine · (2S)-2,6-diaminohexanoic acid · (2S)-6-amino-2-azaniumylhexanoate · (S)-2,6-Diaminohexanoic acid
Show all 25 names
(S)-Lysine · (S)-alpha,epsilon-Diaminocaproic acid · (S)-α,ε-Diaminocaproic acid · 2,6-Diaminohexanoic acid · 2,6-diaminohexanoate · 6-ammonio-L-norleucine · Aminutrin · Biolys · Hexanoic acid, 2,6-diamino-, (S)- · L-2,6-Diaminocaproic acid · L-lys · LYS (IUPAC abbreviation) · Lisina · Lysinum · alpha-Lysine · glycerin · glycerine · h-Lys-oh · lysine acid
What it does: Used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning agent, a hair conditioner and an antistatic agent.
Skin conditioning
Hair conditioning
Antistatic
Flavouring agent
Solvent
Flavouring
Is it a concern?: Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 4 composition records across product categories including Personal care.

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

No restrictions found. Lysine appears in these published regulatory listings.

In marketed US drugs
Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty

EUEFSAEFSA opinion5 entries
- Safety and efficacy of concentrated liquid L-lysine (base), L-lysine monohydrochloride and L-lysine sulphate produced using different strains of Corynebacterium glutamicum for all animal species based on a dossier submitted by AMAC/EEIG (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 79, (FGE.79). Consideration of amino acids and related substances evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to amino acids from chemical group 34 evaluated by EFSA in FGE.26Rev1 (2008). Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (EFSA AFC)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 96 (FGE.96): Consideration of 88 flavouring substances considered by EFSA for which EU production volumes / anticipated production volumes have been submitted on request by DG SANCO. Addendum to FGE. 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85 and 87 (EFSA CEF)Source →
- Scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of concentrated liquid L-lysine (base), concentrated liquid L-lysine monohydrochloride and L-lysine monohydrochloride produced by Escherichia coli (FERM BP-10941) for all animal species, based on three dossiers submitted by Ajinomoto Eurolysine SAS (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of concentrated liquid L-lysine (base), concentrated liquid L-lysine monohydrochloride and L-lysine monohydrochloride technically pure produced using Escherichia coli (FERM BP-11355) for all animal species based on a dossier submitted by Ajinomoto Eurolysine S.A.S (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
USFDAinactive ingredient database3 entries — 2 administration routes
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Potency: 0.22 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: 0.61 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: NASource →
EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
- Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.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 4 composition records across product categories including Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Anti-static agent, Softener and conditioner, Solvent.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 4 composition records across product categories including Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Anti-static agent, Softener and conditioner, Solvent.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 55 active drug products and 56 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 55 active drug products and 56 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
- Safety and efficacy of concentrated liquid L-lysine (base), L-lysine monohydrochloride and L-lysine sulphate produced using different strains of Corynebacterium glutamicum for all animal species based on a dossier submitted by AMAC/EEIG (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2016 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 79, (FGE.79). Consideration of amino acids and related substances evaluated by JECFA (63rd meeting) structurally related to amino acids from chemical group 34 evaluated by EFSA in FGE.26Rev1 (2008). Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (EFSA AFC)
  2008 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 96 (FGE.96): Consideration of 88 flavouring substances considered by EFSA for which EU production volumes / anticipated production volumes have been submitted on request by DG SANCO. Addendum to FGE. 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85 and 87 (EFSA CEF)
  2011 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of concentrated liquid L-lysine (base), concentrated liquid L-lysine monohydrochloride and L-lysine monohydrochloride produced by Escherichia coli (FERM BP-10941) for all animal species, based on three dossiers submitted by Ajinomoto Eurolysine SAS (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2013 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of concentrated liquid L-lysine (base), concentrated liquid L-lysine monohydrochloride and L-lysine monohydrochloride technically pure produced using Escherichia coli (FERM BP-11355) for all animal species based on a dossier submitted by Ajinomoto Eurolysine S.A.S (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2014 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
- 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 Lysine 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 →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated February 8, 2019
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2027-12-31
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)

Openfda substance

drugbank.ca

Read →

Openfda substance

accessdata.fda.gov

Read →

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

No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.

Good fit

This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.

Where it has been recorded

How often FDA National Drug Code directory has listed Lysine in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

Typical roles

Skin conditioningHair conditioningAntistaticFlavouring agentSolventFlavouring

See products using Lysine →

Catalog

Found in these products

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

See all 138 →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Lysine in the catalog.