Is Chitin safe in cosmetics?
Chitin has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Cosmetic Ingredient
Chitin
Also known as: EINECS 215-744-3, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 128991, Chitan, N-acetyl-, Chitina, UNII-8SH93A7QWW
INCI: CHITIN
Chitin (CAS 1398-61-4) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Film forming; skin conditioning; viscosity controlling. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 1398-61-4 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Film forming; skin conditioning; viscosity controlling
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
FDA permitted; generally recognized as safe polymer
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Chitin.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Additional Ingredient Properties
2 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
polymer
{"cas_number": "1398-61-4", "ingredient_class": "film_former/texture_modifier", "polymer_type": "natural_polysaccharide", "chemical_backbone": "chitin", "molecular_weight_Da_range": "1000000-2500000", "ionic_character": "nonionic", "pH_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "salt_tolerance": "moderate", "electrolyte_effect_on_viscosity": "moderate", "temperature_viscosity_sensitivity": "moderate", "f…
rheology
{"cas_number": "1398-61-4", "rheology_modifier_type": "Natural Polysaccharide - Structural Polymer", "thickening_mechanism": "Particle swelling and network formation", "viscosity_increase_factor": "500-2000x", "brookfield_viscosity_typical_cps": "800-4000", "shear_thinning_behavior": "Low", "thixotropic": "No", "yield_stress_pa": "2-6", "flow_curve_type": "Near-Newtonian", "optimal_ph_range": "5.0…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Abrasive
Filler
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Chitin.
Regulatory Flags
potential-allergen
Known Synonyms
EINECS 215-744-3
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 128991
Chitan, N-acetyl-
Chitina
UNII-8SH93A7QWW
Chemical Function
Abrasive
Filler
Regulatory Lists
Canada; Personal care; Substances in PCP - Canada (4/2014)
active_ingredient; agricultural; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chitin allowed in the EU?
Chitin EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Chitin do in cosmetics?
Chitin functions as: Film forming; skin conditioning; viscosity controlling. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1398-61-4.
Compliance Tools
Check Chitin 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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