Is GLYCERIN safe to use in EU cosmetics?

GLYCERIN is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

What function does GLYCERIN serve in cosmetics?

According to the EU CosIng inventory, GLYCERIN carries the following function designation(s): DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, PERFUMING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING.

What other records share CAS 56-81-5?

CAS 56-81-5 may appear across multiple EU annex records. The CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

How do I check if my formula contains GLYCERIN?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 3404021/11/2019

GLYCERIN

Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane

GLYCERIN is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

INCI Checker Compare all markets Search similar

Regulatory evidence by market

This matrix separates verified ingredient rules from sources that are mapped but not yet imported. No imported rule does not mean the ingredient is permitted.

Compare markets

Swipe or scroll horizontally to see every column.

Market	Evidence status	Records	Source language
European Union	Source mapped Inventory entry; no linked annex rule	0	English and EU languages
Great Britain	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	English
Canada	Evidence linked Restricted Open this evidence	1	English and French
New Zealand	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	English
ASEAN	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	English and national languages
China	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	Chinese with selected English material
Japan	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	Japanese; official English translation available
South Korea	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	Korean with some English names
United States	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	English
Australia	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	English
Brazil	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	Portuguese with INCI crosswalks
India	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	English and Hindi
Saudi Arabia	Source mapped Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported	0	Arabic and English

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 56-81-5

CAS 56-81-5PubChem CID 753

Glycerol

Glycerol is a triol with a structure of propane substituted at positions 1, 2 and 3 by hydroxy groups. It has a role as a geroprotector, an osmolyte, a detergent, a solvent, a mouse metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, a human metabolite and an algal metabolite. It is an alditol and a triol. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: propane-1,2,3-triol

Molecular formula: C3H8O3
Molecular weight: 92.09 g/mol
Exact mass: 92.047344113 Da
XLogP3: -1.8
Topological polar surface area: 60.7 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 3
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 3
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

glycerinGlycerine1,2,3-PropanetriolGlycyl alcoholTrihydroxypropaneGlyceritolOsmoglyn1,2,3-trihydroxypropane

16 more reported names

GlyrolGlysaninGrocoleneOphthalganGlycerinumVitrosuposDagralaxGlycerin, anhydrousSynthetic glycerinOptimMoonSynthetic glycerineIncorporation factor90 Technical glycerineCitifluor AF 2Glycerolum

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:131416
ChEBI:CHEBI:166986
ChEBI:CHEBI:17408
ChEBI:CHEBI:17754
ChEBI:CHEBI:178017
ChEBI:CHEBI:189439
ChEBI:CHEBI:232593
ChEBI:CHEBI:232596
ChEBI:CHEBI:232600
ChEBI:CHEBI:234261
ChEBI:CHEBI:76579
ChEMBL:CHEMBL692
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID9020663
PubMed:39067042
PubMed:36690085
PubMed:36416909
PubMed:36372912
PubMed:34409680
PubMed:34084059
PubMed:32737941
PubMed:32081053
PubMed:31974165
PubMed:30974099
PubMed:30545937

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-09-02 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for GLYCERIN

INCI name

GLYCERIN

INN name

glycerol

Ph. Eur. name

glycerolum

Description

Glycerine ;Glycerol (INN); Glycerol (RIFM); Glycerolum (EP); Glycyl Alcohol; 1,2,3-Propanetriol; 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 34040
Imported identity: GLYCERIN
Source update: 21/11/2019

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for GLYCERIN

Browse

Browse EU annexes

Explore Annex II–VI to see which substances are prohibited, restricted or permitted under specific conditions.

Search annex entries

Search the annex database for entries matching GLYCERIN or related substances.

Key data

CAS

56-81-5

200-289-5

Restriction

—

Function

DENATURANT: Rendering cosmetics unpalatable. Mostly added to cosmetics containing ethyl alcohol to make it unsuitable for ingestion.
HAIR CONDITIONING: Enhancing the appearance and feel of hair. Leaving the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparting volume, lightness, gloss, texture, etc.
HUMECTANT: Retaining and/or preserving the moisture in a product during use.
ORAL CARE: Providing cosmetic effects to the oral cavity, e.g. cleansing, deodorising, protecting.
PERFUMING: Used for perfume and aromatic raw materials.
SKIN CONDITIONING: Maintaining the skin in good condition.
SKIN PROTECTING: Helping to avoid harmful effects to the skin from external factors.
SOLVENT: Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).
VISCOSITY CONTROLLING: Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#11096 · GLYCERIN

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

DIETHYL PHTHALATEDENATURANT, FILM FORMING, FRAGRANCE, HAIR CONDITIONING, PLASTICISER, SOLVENT

EUCALYPTOLDENATURANT, PERFUMING, TONIC

EUGENOLDENATURANT, PERFUMING, TONIC

FORMALDEHYDEANTIMICROBIAL, DENATURANT, PRESERVATIVE

MENTHOLDENATURANT, FRAGRANCE, REFRESHING, SOOTHING

METHYL ALCOHOLDENATURANT, SOLVENT

METHYL SALICYLATEDENATURANT, FLAVOURING, ORAL CARE, PERFUMING, SOOTHING

MIBKDENATURANT, PERFUMING, SOLVENT

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How GLYCERIN appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists GLYCERIN as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

GLYCERIN is also tagged with 9 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

GLYCERIN is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, GLYCERIN carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 56-81-5 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

View CAS records

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or compare this substance across all supported market datasets.

Open INCI Checker

Source note for GLYCERIN

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for GLYCERIN from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research GLYCERIN and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

View sources View updates

Tools & next steps

Check your formula

Scan a full INCI list to detect GLYCERIN and any linked EU annex restrictions or allergen flags.

INCI Checker

Search similar ingredients

Find other inventory ingredients and annex entries related to GLYCERIN, its identifiers or nearby name variants.