Is Beta-Glucan safe in cosmetics?
Beta-Glucan has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Excellent
Active Ingredient
Beta-Glucan
INCI: BETA-GLUCAN
Beta-Glucan (CAS 26874-89-5) is a cosmetic active ingredient functioning as Skin-conditioning agent, humectant, immunomodulator (beta-1,3/1,6-glucan;. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 26874-89-5 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Skin-conditioning agent, humectant, immunomodulator (beta-1,3/1,6-glucan; anti-inflammatory; moisture retention; stimulates skin immune defense)
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; no US concentration cap. Oat-derived; closely related to FDA-approved colloidal oatmeal. HRIPT induction: 1.0% low-level reactions; 0 allergies among 445,820 products sold over 3 years. Effective at 0.1–0.5%.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Beta-Glucan.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum | 0.1–1 | 2 | CIR/Industry |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "9041-22-9", "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": "barrier-repair, anti-inflammatory, hydration-plumping", "mechanism_of_action": "Cofactor for enzymatic reactions, antioxidant activity", "target_skin_layer": "epidermis", "collagen_stimulation": "Mild", "elastin_protection": "Mild", "wrinkle_reduction_pct": "6-12", "clinical_study_duration_weeks": "12", "sample_size": "30", "double_blind": "Yes", "placebo_controlled": "Yes", …
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "9004-54-0", "ingredient_class": "other", "primary_mechanism": "barrier_reinforcement", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_modulation": "no", "NF_kB_inhibiti…
humectant
{"cas_number": "9051-97-2", "ingredient_class": "humectant/polysaccharide", "molecular_weight_Da": "variable", "chemical_type": "polysaccharide", "water_binding_mechanism": "hydrogen_bonding/hygroscopic/film_forming", "water_holding_capacity_g_per_g": "0.6-1.0", "hygroscopicity_at_50_RH": "excellent", "hygroscopicity_at_80_RH": "excellent", "NMF_component": "no", "NMF_percentage_natural": "0", "TE…
microbiome_impact
{"microbiome_effect": "positive", "prebiotic": "yes", "probiotic_compatible": "yes", "preservative_effect_on_microbiome": "Prebiotic polysaccharide; immunomodulatory; supports beneficial bacteria", "gut_microbiome_risk": "low", "microbiome_recovery_time": "<2 days", "selective_antimicrobial": "no", "beneficial_bacteria_support": "S. epidermidis, Lactobacillus spp, Corynebacterium spp", "pathogen_i…
pediatric_safety
{"safe_for_newborn_0_6m": "yes", "safe_for_infant_6_12m": "yes", "safe_for_toddler_1_3y": "yes", "safe_for_child_3_12y": "yes", "safe_for_teen_12_18y": "yes", "pediatric_max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "adult_max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "pediatric_dermal_absorption_factor": "normal", "diaper_area_safe": "yes", "pediatric_allergy_prevalence": "low", "banned_in_children_products_eu": "no", "banned…
ph_stability
{"optimal_ph_min": "4.0", "optimal_ph_max": "8.0", "stable_ph_min": "3.5", "stable_ph_max": "9.0", "degrades_above_ph": "10.0", "degrades_below_ph": "3.0", "ph_dependent_function": "Polysaccharide; immune modulation", "formulation_note": "Soothing and moisturizing", "source": "Formulation literature"}
polymer
{"cas_number": "9041-22-9", "ingredient_class": "film_former/moisture_retention", "polymer_type": "natural_polysaccharide", "chemical_backbone": "other", "molecular_weight_Da_range": "75000-600000", "ionic_character": "nonionic", "pH_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "salt_tolerance": "moderate", "electrolyte_effect_on_viscosity": "moderate", "temperature_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "fil…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Filler
Softener and conditioner
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Beta-Glucan.
Regulatory Flags
active
immunomodulator
film-forming
soothing
wound-healing
macrophage-stimulant
anti-inflammatory
oat-derived
natural-origin
sensitive-skin
atopic-dermatitis-target
baby-safe
0.1-0.5pct-effective-dose
2-week-sustained-moisturizing
eu_children_restricted
Chemical Function
Softener and conditioner
Filler
Regulatory Lists
children
Europe
Personal care
children
Europe
Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
Europe
Personal care
Europe
Personal care
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beta-Glucan allowed in the EU?
Beta-Glucan EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Beta-Glucan do in cosmetics?
Beta-Glucan functions as: Skin-conditioning agent, humectant, immunomodulator (beta-1,3/1,6-glucan; anti-inflammatory; moisture retention; stimulates skin immune defense). It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 26874-89-5.
Compliance Tools
Check Beta-Glucan 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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