Salicylic Acid: What the SCCS Concluded About Safety in Cosmetics
Salicylic Acid safety summary from SCCNFP/0522/01, final: SCCS conclusion, NOAEL, maximum concentration or conditions, and source-linked context.
Salicylic Acid is covered by SCCNFP/0522/01, final, an SCCS-family cosmetic safety opinion dated 2002-06-04. The opinion conclusion for this opinion is direct enough for a substance-specific summary: On the bases of the information provided for consideration, the SCCNFP considers that salicylic acid is safe for “other uses” than as a preservative, at a concentration up to 2.0 % for the leave on and rinse-off cosmetic products and at a concentration up to 3.0 % for the cosmetic rinse-off hair products.
Core Opinion Facts
- Opinion: SCCNFP/0522/01, final
- Opinion date: 2002-06-04
- Primary substance: Salicylic Acid
- CAS: 69-72-7
NOAEL Values Cited in the Opinion
The no-observed-adverse-effect data below is shown only from the SCCS source fields for this opinion. It is not a calculated margin-of-safety output.
| Endpoint | Value | Unit | Study context |
|---|---|---|---|
| reproductive_toxicity_parturition_offspring_survival | 80 | mg/kg bw/day | rat, oral (gavage), gestation days 15-21 (7 days), twice daily |
| teratogenicity_MoS_anchor | 75 | mg/kg bw/day | rat, oral, gestation days 8-14 |
Maximum Concentration or Conditions
| Use condition | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| leave on face general cream pct | 2 | % |
| rinse off general pct | 2 | % |
| leave on hair care pct | 1 | % |
| rinse off hair care pct | 3 | % |
| preservative all others pct | 0.5 | % |
Conditions from the Opinion
Concentration cap varies by product category. Pre-existing Annex VI restriction retained: 'do not use in preparations for children under 3 years old, excepting shampoos'; label warning 'do not use for children care under 3 years old' for long-skin-contact products.
How to Read This Safety Conclusion
The key point for formulators is the match between the named ingredient, the cited NOAEL, and the SCCS conclusion. A NOAEL is a study point of departure, not a standalone permission to use Salicylic Acid at any level. The SCCS conclusion and any concentration or product-type conditions remain the controlling context for cosmetic use.
The source also matters because SCCS opinions can be ingredient-specific. The internal ingredient page for Salicylic Acid should be treated as the substance hub, while SCCNFP/0522/01, final is the opinion-level page for the committee record.
Practical Formulation Takeaway
For a formula review, start with the identity check: confirm the INCI name, CAS number, and opinion reference align with the material in the formula. Then compare the intended product type against the SCCS concentration or condition language above. If the formulation uses a different exposure route, product category, or concentration basis, the SCCS conclusion should not be stretched beyond what SCCNFP/0522/01, final actually assessed.
Source
- SCCS opinion: SCCNFP/0522/01, final
- Source file: out170_en.pdf
- Extraction JSON: Source documentation archived.