Is Silicon (Elemental) safe in cosmetics?
Silicon (Elemental) has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Silicon (Elemental)
Also known as: Defoamer S-10, EINECS 231-130-8, UNII-Z4152N8IUI, 14Si, Si (+3 more)
INCI: SILICON
Silicon (Elemental) (CAS 7440-21-3) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Bulking agent (CosIng listed function). EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 7440-21-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Silicon (Elemental) is classified GHS Danger (H228, H320) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Bulking agent (CosIng listed function)
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
silicon
InChIKey
XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Not specifically regulated as a cosmetic active; generally permitted
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Silicon (Elemental).
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
May cause mechanical irritation to the eyes and respiratory tract.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000,000 - 10,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
ICSC Safety Card
1508
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
May cause eye irritation. May cause skin irritation. May cause respiratory tract irritation.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Abrasive
Alloying element
Anti-adhesive/cohesive
Defoamer
Degradant/impurity
Dispersing agent
Filler
Flow promoter
Hardener
No specific technical function
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Silicon (Elemental).
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Silicon (Elemental) by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
18
Lowest NOAEL
1340 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
10000 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
Known Synonyms
Defoamer S-10
EINECS 231-130-8
UNII-Z4152N8IUI
14Si
Si
Silizium
silicio
silicon atom
Chemical Function
Abrasive
Filler
Regulatory Lists
detected; Europe; Home maintenance - caulk/sealant
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint - tattoo ink; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint - tattoo ink; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint - tattoo ink; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint - tattoo ink; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint - tattoo ink; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint - tattoo ink; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint - tattoo ink; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint - tattoo ink; detected; Europe
detected; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; detected; Europe
Europe; supplements
detected; Europe; Personal care - make-up and related - eye liner
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - body paint; detected; Europe
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - general arts and crafts supplies - arts and crafts paint; detected; Europe
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
detected; drinking_water; MN Chemical Screening
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA count match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Adverse Event Associations
7
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silicon (Elemental) allowed in the EU?
Silicon (Elemental) EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Silicon (Elemental) do in cosmetics?
Silicon (Elemental) functions as: Bulking agent (CosIng listed function). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 7440-21-3.
Is Silicon (Elemental) used outside cosmetics?
Silicon (Elemental) also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Silicon (Elemental) have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Silicon (Elemental) is classified GHS Danger (H228, H320) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Silicon (Elemental) 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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