Is 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID safe in cosmetics?
3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted.
Good
Cosmetic Ingredient
3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID
Also known as: Protocatechuic acid, BRN 1448841, EINECS 202-760-0, UNII-36R5QJ8L4B, 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate (+7 more)
3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID (CAS 99-50-3) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Skin Protecting. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 99-50-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Skin Protecting
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid
InChIKey
YQUVCSBJEUQKSH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
Not specifically regulated
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (1)
Endocrine Disruptors
Potential endocrine disrupting compound
Source: NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
Regulatory (1)
JECFA Number
2278
Source: Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Flavouring and nutrient
Humectant
Regulatory List Membership (1)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID.
Regulatory Flags
cosing-sourced
eu-permitted
needs-enrichment
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
Known Synonyms
Protocatechuic acid
BRN 1448841
EINECS 202-760-0
UNII-36R5QJ8L4B
2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate
2,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid
3,4-Dihydroxybenzoate
Protocatehuic acid
b-Resorcylate
b-Resorcylic acid
beta-Resorcylic acid
beta-resorcylate
Chemical Function
Humectant
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory Lists
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
PROTOCATECHUIC ACID
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL37537
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID allowed in the EU?
3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID do in cosmetics?
3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID functions as: Skin Protecting. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 99-50-3.
Is 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID used outside cosmetics?
3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check 3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
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(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Antioxidant
3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid (Protocatechuic Acid)
Good
Chemical family
Antioxidant, skin conditioning
3-Hydroxybenzoic Acid
Moderate
Chemical family
Antimicrobial, Skin Conditioning
4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid
Excellent
Chemical family
Preservative, pH Balancer
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