Is Linoleic Acid safe in cosmetics?
Linoleic Acid has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Linoleic Acid
Also known as: EINECS 200-470-9, Emersol 310, NSC 281243, Polylin No. 515, alpha-Linoleic acid (+15 more)
INCI: LINOLEIC ACID
Linoleic Acid (CAS 60-33-3) is a cosmetic active ingredient functioning as skin-conditioning. 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 60-33-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
skin-conditioning
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; no US concentration cap. Essential fatty acid component of SC lipid system.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Linoleic Acid.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Linoleic Acid, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
6-12%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum/epidermis
Molecular Weight
280.4 Da
Log P
7.0
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
4-10%
Safety Margin Factor
moderate
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: Int J Cosmet Sci 2015
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
3 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOEL | =0.9 mM | European Rabbit | environmental | short-term | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =0.09 mM | European Rabbit | environmental | short-term | ECOTOX |
| LD50 | >50000 mg/kg | Mouse | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "60-33-3", "anti_acne_mechanism": "anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "2", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "5-15", "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_a…
anti_aging
{"anti_aging_claim": "barrier-repair, anti-inflammatory", "mechanism_of_action": "Lipid barrier restoration, TEWL reduction, emollient", "target_skin_layer": "stratum corneum", "collagen_stimulation": "No", "elastin_protection": "No", "wrinkle_reduction_pct": "6-12", "clinical_study_duration_weeks": "8", "sample_size": "30", "double_blind": "Yes", "placebo_controlled": "Yes", "published_journal": …
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "60-33-3", "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_inhibition…
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "0", "irritancy_rating": "0", "skin_type_suitability": "all,oily,combination,normal,acne-prone", "acne_safe": "yes", "source": "Downing 1986"}
dermal_absorption
{"molecular_weight_da": "280.4", "log_p_value": "7.0", "skin_penetration_level": "stratum-corneum", "penetration_depth": "stratum corneum/epidermis", "absorption_pct": "6-12", "systemic_absorption": "minimal", "penetration_enhancer": "yes", "occlusion_effect": "no", "vehicle_dependent": "yes", "skin_barrier_effect": "strengthens", "bioavailability_topical_pct": "4-10", "safety_margin_factor": "mod…
emulsion_hlb
{"hlb_required_as_emulsifier": "no", "hlb_required_of_oil_phase": "16", "co_emulsifier_pairs": "sodium_hydroxide,potassium_hydroxide", "optimal_oil_phase_pct": "8-22", "optimal_water_phase_pct": "78-92", "droplet_size_range_um": "3-30", "creaming_resistance": "moderate", "coalescence_resistance": "good", "ostwald_ripening_resistance": "moderate", "freeze_thaw_stability": "poor", "rheology_modifier…
interactions
{"ingredient_2": "Niacinamide", "interaction_type": "synergistic", "severity": "beneficial", "effect": "Barrier lipid + niacinamide for acne-prone skin", "recommendation": "Excellent; addresses sebum composition", "data_source": "Formulation science literature, dermatological research, cosmetic chemistry best practices", "last_updated": "2026-03-05"}
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…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-static agent
Cleaning agent
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
No specific technical function
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Softener and conditioner
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Regulatory List Membership (3)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Linoleic Acid.
Regulatory Flags
barrier-repair
sc-lipid
free-fatty-acid
essential-fatty-acid
lpp-critical
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
Known Synonyms
EINECS 200-470-9
Emersol 310
NSC 281243
Polylin No. 515
alpha-Linoleic acid
cis-delta9,12-Octadecadienoic acid
UNII-9KJL21T0QJ
(9Z,12Z)-9,12-Octadecadienoate
(Z,Z)-9,12-Octadecadienoate
9-cis,12-cis-Linoleate
9Z,12Z-Linoleate
9Z,12Z-Octadecadienoate
All-cis-9,12-Octadecadienoate
C18:2 9c, 12c omega6 todos cis-9,12-octadienoico
C18:2, n-6,9 all-cis
Extra Linoleic 90
Linolate
Linoleate
Telfairic acid
acide cis-linoleique
Chemical Function
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Softener and conditioner
Anti-static agent
Cleaning agent
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
supplements
IFRA Transparency
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
SCIL (9/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
Europe
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
LINOLEIC ACID
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL267476
Max Phase
2
Adverse Event Associations
8
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Linoleic Acid allowed in the EU?
Linoleic Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Linoleic Acid do in cosmetics?
Linoleic Acid functions as: skin-conditioning. It is classified as a Active Ingredient in our database. CAS number: 60-33-3.
Is Linoleic Acid used outside cosmetics?
Linoleic Acid also appears in pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Linoleic Acid 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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