EU cosmetic ingredient limits
EU limits for 24 commonly used cosmetic ingredients, taken from the rule table behind our checker. The source is the consolidated Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 text of 18.05.2026; every row cites its Annex and entry number. Ingredients without a traceable Annex entry are not listed — fewer rows beats invented ones. This is a reference table, not legal advice and not a guarantee of compliance; the consolidated text is the binding version.
| Ingredient | Annex · entry | Limit | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroquinone — read the guide | II No 1339 | Prohibited | Prohibited in EU cosmetics. Sole exception via Annex III No 14: artificial nail systems at up to 0.02% after mixing, professional use only. |
| Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) — read the guide | V No 57 | ≤ 0.0015% (15 ppm) | Rinse-off products only; prohibited in leave-on products. |
| Triclosan — read the guide | V No 25 | ≤ 0.3% | Only in the six listed product types (toothpastes, hand soaps, body soaps/shower gels, non-spray deodorants, face powders and blemish concealers, nail products for cleaning before artificial nail systems).Label: Toothpaste: “Not to be used for children under 3 years of age”. |
| Retinol — read the guide | III No 376 | ≤ 0.05% RE (body lotion) · ≤ 0.3% RE (other) | Retinol equivalent pool with Retinyl Acetate and Retinyl Palmitate; body lotion 0.05% RE, other leave-on and rinse-off 0.3% RE.Label: “Contains Vitamin A. Consider your daily intake before use” obligatory. |
| Kojic Acid — read the guide | III No 375 | ≤ 1.0% | Face and hand products only. |
| Alpha-Arbutin — read the guide | III No 377 | ≤ 2.0% (face cream) · ≤ 0.5% (body lotion) | Face cream 2%, body lotion 0.5%; hydroquinone must remain at the unavoidable trace level. |
| Salicylic Acid — read the guide | III No 98 | ≤ 3.0% (rinse-off hair) · ≤ 2.0% (other) · ≤ 0.5% (listed types) | (a) rinse-off hair products 3.0%; (b) other products 2.0%; (c) body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and roll-on deodorant 0.5%. Not for children under three, not in oral products, not in products that may be inhaled. As a preservative see Annex V No 3 (0.5% as acid). |
| Phenoxyethanol — read the guide | V No 29 | ≤ 1.0% | Preservative; max 1.0% in the finished product. |
| Sodium Benzoate — read the guide | V No 1 | ≤ 2.5% (rinse-off) · ≤ 1.7% (oral) · ≤ 0.5% (leave-on), as acid | Expressed as acid, by product type. |
| Potassium Sorbate — read the guide | V No 4 | ≤ 0.6% as acid | Group cap together with sorbic acid, calcium and sodium sorbate. |
| Benzyl Alcohol — read the guide | V No 34 | ≤ 1.0% (preservative) | Non-preservative uses fall under Annex III No 45: individually listed above 0.001% in leave-on and 0.01% in rinse-off products. |
| Methylparaben — read the guide | V No 12 | ≤ 0.4% (single ester, as acid) | Ester mixtures: 0.8% total as acid. |
| Propylparaben — read the guide | V No 12a | ≤ 0.14% (group, as acid) | Propyl- and butylparaben combined, as acid; 0.8% total when mixed with No 12 esters.Label: Not in leave-on products for the nappy area of children under three; such products must state “Do not use on the nappy area”. |
| Dehydroacetic Acid | V No 13 | ≤ 0.6% as acid | Not to be used in aerosol spray products. |
| Chlorphenesin | V No 50 | ≤ 0.3% | Preservative. |
| DMDM Hydantoin — read the guide | V No 33 | ≤ 0.6% | The label must state “releases formaldehyde” when the finished product releases more than 0.001% (10 ppm) total formaldehyde.Label: “Releases formaldehyde” above the 10 ppm threshold. |
| Limonene — read the guide | III No 88 | List above 0.001% (leave-on) / 0.01% (rinse-off) | Peroxide value below 20 mmol/L. |
| Linalool — read the guide | III No 84 | List above 0.001% (leave-on) / 0.01% (rinse-off) | Named individually in the ingredient list above the thresholds. |
| Lavandula Angustifolia Oil | III No 360 | List above 0.001% (leave-on) / 0.01% (rinse-off) | Declared in the ingredient list as “Lavandula Oil/Extract” above the thresholds. |
| Titanium Dioxide | III No 321 | ≤ 25% (face powder, powder form) · ≤ 1.4% (hair aerosol) | Powder form with ≥1% of particles ≤10 μm aerodynamic diameter: face powder 25%, hair aerosol 1.4% (professional 1.1%); other products must not be inhalable. As a colorant see Annex IV No 143; as a UV filter see Annex VI No 27 (25%). |
| Zinc Oxide | VI No 30/30a | ≤ 25% (UV filter) | Not for applications with lung inhalation risk; nano form under No 30a; colorant use under Annex IV No 144. |
| Sodium Hydroxide | III No 15a | Purpose-specific | (a) nail cuticle solvent 5%; (b) hair straightening products at pH ≤ 12.7: general use 2%, professional use 4.5%, with the alkali warnings; (c) depilatories as pH regulator under their own condition. As a common pH adjuster in regular skincare it is not restricted by Annex III. |
| Talc | III No 59 | See conditions | (a) powdery products for children under three must state “Keep powder away from children’s nose and mouth”; (b) remaining conditions: see the consolidated text (not fully excerpted in the rule table). |
| Benzoyl Peroxide | III No 94 | ≤ 0.7% (after mixing) | Artificial nail systems only, professional use. |
Rule table v0 · last verified 2026-11-10 · source: EUR-Lex consolidated text 18.05.2026. Screening aid only, not legal advice.