Is Agar safe in cosmetics?
Agar has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Excellent
Cosmetic Ingredient
Agar
Also known as: Agar (Gelidium spp.), Agar-agar gum, Agaropectin, mixt with agarose, Agarose, mixt with agaropectin, Chinese gelatin (+11 more)
INCI: AGAR
Agar (CAS 9002-18-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Binder, Thickening Agent, Gelling Agent, Film Former. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in food safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 9002-18-0 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Binder, Thickening Agent, Gelling Agent, Film Former
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
GRAS for food; widely permitted in cosmetics; no CIR restrictions
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Agar.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
1 toxicity value from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD50 | =11000 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | TEST |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "9002-18-0", "anti_acne_mechanism": "anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "0-5", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "No limit", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": "No", "eu_cosmetic_restriction_…
anti_aging
{"anti_aging_claim": "hydration-plumping", "mechanism_of_action": "Humectant, water binding, barrier support", "target_skin_layer": "stratum corneum, epidermis", "collagen_stimulation": "No", "elastin_protection": "No", "wrinkle_reduction_pct": "5-10", "clinical_study_duration_weeks": "8", "sample_size": "30", "double_blind": "No", "placebo_controlled": "Yes", "published_journal": "JDD, Int J Cosm…
biopolymer
{"cas_number": "9002-18-0", "polymer_class": "seaweed_polysaccharide", "botanical_source": "Gelidium/Gracilaria", "molecular_weight_range_kDa": "120-300", "monosaccharide_composition": "agarose/agaropectin (galactose/anhydrogalactose)", "degree_of_branching": "linear", "charge_type": "nonionic", "viscosity_1pct_solution_mPas": "5-20", "pseudoplastic_behavior": "weak", "thixotropy": "no", "yield_st…
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "yes", "biodegradation_days": "28-60", "bioaccumulative": "no", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "low", "coral_reef_safe": "yes", "marine_toxicity": "very low toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "minimal impact", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environmental": "no", "palm_…
emulsion_hlb
{"hlb_required_as_emulsifier": "no", "emulsifier_type": "o_w", "emulsion_stabilization_mechanism": "steric_stabilization", "co_emulsifier_pairs": "none_required", "optimal_oil_phase_pct": "3-10", "optimal_water_phase_pct": "90-97", "electrolyte_tolerance": "moderate", "pH_emulsion_stability_range": "5.0-10.0", "viscosity_building_contribution": "very_high", "droplet_size_range_um": "0.5-15", "zeta…
hair_care
{"hair_function": "styling", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "curly/coily", "porosity_suitability": "all", "protein_sensitivity": "moisture", "moisture_protein_balance": "yes", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "yes", "color_safe": "neutral", "…
ph_stability
{"optimal_ph_min": "4.0", "optimal_ph_max": "10.0", "stable_ph_min": "3.5", "stable_ph_max": "11.0", "ph_dependent_function": "Seaweed gel former", "formulation_note": "Requires heat to dissolve", "source": "Formulation literature"}
polymer
{"cas_number": "9002-18-0", "ingredient_class": "gelling_agent/thickener", "polymer_type": "natural_polysaccharide", "chemical_backbone": "other", "molecular_weight_Da_range": "120000-300000", "ionic_character": "nonionic", "pH_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "salt_tolerance": "moderate", "electrolyte_effect_on_viscosity": "moderate", "temperature_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "film_tran…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Binder
Deodorizer
Emulsifier
Filler
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Surface modifier
Thickening agent
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (2)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Agar.
Regulatory Flags
heavy_metal_testing_required
marine_origin
cosmos_ecocert_compatible
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
Known Synonyms
Agar (Gelidium spp.)
Agar-agar gum
Agaropectin, mixt with agarose
Agarose, mixt with agaropectin
Chinese gelatin
EINECS 232-658-1
FEMA No. 2012
Isinglass, japanese
Japan isinglass
Japanese gelatin
Macassar gelatin
NCI-C50475
Vegetable gelatin
UNII-89T13OHQ2B
UNII-LPT5H1B7X5
UNII-3PBT7NM2M0
Chemical Function
Deodorizer
Viscosity modifier
Binder
Thickening agent
Fragrance
Filler
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
IFRA Transparency
animal_products
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in food safety data.
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Agar
ADI
NOT LIMITED mg/kg bw
Food Category
preservative
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Agar allowed in the EU?
Agar EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Agar do in cosmetics?
Agar functions as: Binder, Thickening Agent, Gelling Agent, Film Former. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9002-18-0.
Is Agar used outside cosmetics?
Agar also appears in food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Agar compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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