Skin (dermal)

European Commission — CosIng: In the EU, titanium dioxide is listed for cosmetic use as a colorant and UV filter, with restrictions on inhalable powder and aerosol forms under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. WHO / IARC: IARC classified titanium dioxide as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) on the basis of inhalation of the powder — a hazard classification, not an exposure-specific verdict for finished creams.

EU SCCS / European Commission: In the EU, BHA is flagged by the SCCS in opinion SCCS/1682/25 (adopted 26 March 2026) reviewing potential endocrine activity in dermal cosmetic use at in-use concentrations.

European Commission: The EU restricted phenoxyethanol as a cosmetic preservative to a maximum of 1.0% under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V. France ANSES / ANSM: France's authority flagged by recommendation that phenoxyethanol not be used in leave-on products intended for the nappy area of children aged three and under.

European Commission: The EU restricted propylparaben and butylparaben to a combined maximum of 0.14% (Regulation (EU) 358/2014) and prohibited five longer-chain parabens (Regulation (EU) 1004/2014). EU SCCS: The EU SCCS flagged by review certain parabens for potential endocrine activity, which informed the EU concentration limits; longer-chain parabens carried the greatest uncertainty.

European Commission: The EU restricted cosmetic retinol and retinyl esters to 0.05% retinol-equivalent in body lotion and 0.3% in other leave-on and rinse-off products under Regulation (EU) 2024/996. EU SCCS: Above the new EU leave-on caps and with prolonged daily use across several products, topical vitamin A may contribute to a consumer's total systemic vitamin A intake, per the SCCS assessment.

US FDA: A product contains glycerin as a widely used humectant; the US lists it as a permitted multi-purpose ingredient under 21 CFR 182.1320.

European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 fragrance-allergen labelling in cosmetic products, adding individual disclosure requirements above set thresholds. European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU flagged by Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 additional fragrance allergens for individual labelling in cosmetic products above set thresholds.

European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2022/1181 finished cosmetic products that release formaldehyde to carry the warning "releases formaldehyde" above 0.001% released formaldehyde. European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU flagged by Regulation (EU) 2022/1181 finished products containing formaldehyde releasers for the warning "releases formaldehyde" above 0.001% released formaldehyde.

European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2022/1176 benzophenone-3 uses in cosmetic UV-filter applications through Annex VI changes. European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU flagged by Regulation (EU) 2022/1176 benzophenone-3 in the cosmetic UV-filter amendment package.

US Federal Register / FDA: The US restricted by the 2016 FDA final rule triclosan in OTC consumer antiseptic wash products. US Federal Register / FDA: FDA restricted by final rule triclosan for OTC consumer antiseptic wash products; this scope does not cover every cosmetic product type.

IARC Monographs: IARC classified by Monographs talc as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A); this is a hazard classification, not a product-specific exposure estimate. US FDA: FDA flagged by cosmetic ingredient page talc as an ingredient used in cosmetics and tracks the cosmetic talc issue separately from food uses.

European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2016/1198 methylisothiazolinone use in cosmetics, removing leave-on uses from the permitted preservative scope. European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2016/1198 methylisothiazolinone in cosmetics by separating permitted rinse-off use from leave-on products.

US FDA: The US FDA restricted by current published position the OTC sale of skin lightening products containing hydroquinone; prescription products remain available. US FDA: FDA restricted by current published position the over-the-counter sale of skin lightening products containing hydroquinone — not approved for OTC sale; prescription hydroquinone products remain available.

US FDA: The US FDA flagged by current hair-smoothing page that formaldehyde can be released into the air as a gas when certain products are heated; Reginfo records a proposed-rule stage for banning formaldehyde and releasers in hair smoothing or straightening products. Reginfo.gov / HHS-FDA: HHS-FDA flagged by Unified Agenda entry a proposed rule that would ban formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals as ingredients in US hair smoothing or hair straightening products; applicability is proposed-rule stage, not a final federal cosmetics ban.

US FDA: The US FDA flagged by nail-care page toluene as a solvent used in a variety of nail products and states that its use is being phased out.

European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 dibutyl phthalate through the cosmetic prohibited-substances annex. US FDA: The US FDA flagged by nail-care page DBP as historically common in nail polishes and some nail hardeners, while reporting that its latest survey found DBP in only a few nail polishes.

US FDA: The US FDA flagged by hair-dyes page PPD as a hair-dye ingredient implicated more prominently in allergic reactions and cross-sensitization examples.

European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU listed by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 octinoxate, also named ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, in the Annex VI UV-filter table with a maximum concentration cell. Hawaii State Legislature: Hawaii restricted by HRS section 342D-21 the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of SPF sunscreen protection personal care products containing octinoxate without a medically licensed prescription; basis is state environmental-statute market scope.

European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2022/2195 homosalate to a maximum of 7,34 % in face products.

European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2019/831 quaternium-15 — prohibited in cosmetic products (Annex II). European Union / EUR-Lex: The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2019/831 quaternium-15 — added to the prohibited-substances list (Annex II) of the Cosmetics Regulation; the former Annex V preservative entry no longer applies.

Federal Register / US FDA: The US FDA restricted by 2016 final rule triclocarban for OTC consumer antiseptic wash products by finding it not GRAS/GRAE for that wash-product drug-rule scope.

US FDA: The US FDA restricted by current hair-dyes page and final-rule history lead acetate in cosmetics intended for coloring hair on the scalp; FDA states the final rule was made effective January 6, 2022 with a 12-month enforcement-discretion period.

eCFR / US FDA: The US listed by 21 CFR 74.2052 D&C Black No. 2 as a high-purity carbon black color additive for specified cosmetic uses under certification and specification conditions.

US FDA: The US FDA flagged by PFAS-in-cosmetics page common PFAS ingredients found in cosmetics and a MoCRA assessment with significant data gaps for PFAS used in cosmetic products. US FDA: The US FDA flagged by 2025 PFAS cosmetics assessment significant data gaps for PFAS used in cosmetic products, including limited use-level data and lack of dermal and oral absorption data.