Is Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose safe in cosmetics?
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Excellent
Cosmetic Ingredient
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Also known as: 4-Methylphenyl salicylate, Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 4-methylphenyl ester, 3-10-00-00132, BRN 2114441, p-Cresyl salicylate (+3 more)
INCI: HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (CAS 607-88-5) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as rheology modifier, thickener, film-forming agent. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 607-88-5 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
rheology modifier, thickener, film-forming agent
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. CIR-assessed safe.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
1 human repeat insult patch test aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMT | - | 0 | 2700 | - | - |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 0.1–1 | 2 | CIR |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "9004-65-3", "ingredient_class": "anti_pollution", "primary_mechanism": "film_forming_barrier", "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_…
baby_pediatric
{"cas_number": "9004-65-3", "ingredient_class": "other", "pediatric_safety_rating": "excellent", "minimum_age_months": "0", "neonatal_safe": "yes", "premature_infant_safe": "yes", "skin_barrier_maturity_consideration": "Cellulose derivative", "transepidermal_absorption_risk_pediatric": "very_low", "dose_per_kg_body_weight_concern": "Polymer non-absorbed", "skin_surface_area_to_weight_ratio_relevan…
biopolymer
{"cas_number": "9004-65-3", "polymer_class": "cellulose_derivative", "botanical_source": "Wood pulp/cotton (modified)", "molecular_weight_range_kDa": "10-1500", "monosaccharide_composition": "glucose with hydroxypropyl/methyl groups", "degree_of_branching": "linear", "charge_type": "nonionic", "viscosity_1pct_solution_mPas": "3-150000", "pseudoplastic_behavior": "moderate", "thixotropy": "weak", "…
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "0.2", "max_concentration_pct": "2.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "1.0", "product_type": "Eye Gel", "function_at_concentration": "Thickener", "source": "CIR Safety Assessment"}
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "yes", "biodegradation_days": "60-120", "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": "5-20", "optimal_water_phase_pct": "80-95", "electrolyte_tolerance": "high", "pH_emulsion_stability_range": "4.0-10.0", "viscosity_building_contribution": "very_high", "droplet_size_range_um": "0.3-12", "zeta_pot…
hair_care
{"hair_function": "styling", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "curly/coily", "porosity_suitability": "all", "protein_sensitivity": "neutral", "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", "k…
polymer
{"cas_number": "9004-65-3", "ingredient_class": "thickener/film_former", "polymer_type": "modified_natural", "chemical_backbone": "cellulose", "molecular_weight_Da_range": "10000-1500000", "molecular_weight_distribution_PDI": "1.5-3.5", "melting_point_C": "52-58", "crystallinity_pct": "0", "branching_degree": "moderate", "ionic_character": "nonionic", "charge_density_meq_g": "0", "HLB_value": "7-1…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Fragrance
Regulatory List Membership (2)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose.
Regulatory Flags
eu-compliant
biodegradable
reach-spm-exempt
natural-polymer
nonionic
good-electrolyte-tolerance
carbomer-alternative
cosmos-eligible
pharma-grade-available
ifra_fragrance
Known Synonyms
4-Methylphenyl salicylate
Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 4-methylphenyl ester
3-10-00-00132
BRN 2114441
p-Cresyl salicylate
EINECS 210-144-8
4-Methylphenyl 2-hydroxybenzoate
NSC 60999
Chemical Function
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
IFRA Transparency
consumer_product
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
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.
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL2260698
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose allowed in the EU?
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose do in cosmetics?
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose functions as: rheology modifier, thickener, film-forming agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 607-88-5.
Is Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose used outside cosmetics?
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose also appears in pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose 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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