Is GLYCOLIC ACID safe to use in EU cosmetics?

GLYCOLIC ACID 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 other records share CAS 79-14-1?

CAS 79-14-1 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 GLYCOLIC ACID?

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 3414715/10/2010

GLYCOLIC ACID

Acetic acid, hydroxy-

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

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Regulatory evidence by market

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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 79-14-1

CAS 79-14-1PubChem CID 757

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is a 2-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid that is acetic acid where the methyl group has been hydroxylated. It has a role as a metabolite and a keratolytic drug. It is a primary alcohol and a 2-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid. It is functionally related to an acetic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a glycolate. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: 2-hydroxyacetic acid

Molecular formula: C2H4O3
Molecular weight: 76.05 g/mol
Exact mass: 76.016043985 Da
XLogP3: -1.1
Topological polar surface area: 57.5 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 2
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 3
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

hydroxyacetic acidHydroxyethanoic acidGlycollic acidglycolatealpha-Hydroxyacetic acid2-Hydroxyethanoic acidKyselina glykolovaKyselina hydroxyoctova

16 more reported names

GLYCOLLATENSC-1660WT12SX38SCHEBI:174974-03-00-00571 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)2-oxonioacetateCHEBI:29805OceanBlu BarrierOceanBlu Pre-PostRefChem:5867Jungshea Glycolic Acid PadsInstaMix Glycolic Concentratepari 30% Glycolic Acid Peelpari 70% Glycolic Acid PeelGlycolic Acid 7% Toning SolutionGLYCOLIC Acid 35 Skin Chemical Peel

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:17375
ChEBI:CHEBI:17497
ChEBI:CHEBI:231641
ChEMBL:CHEMBL252557
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID0025363
PubMed:23125844
PubMed:23123720
PubMed:23112534
PubMed:23098537
PubMed:23084901
PubMed:23077918
PubMed:23071940
PubMed:23066220
PubMed:23044998
PubMed:22985246
PubMed:22975400
PubMed:22946345

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 GLYCOLIC ACID

INCI name

GLYCOLIC ACID

Description

Acetic acid, hydroxy-

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 34147
Imported identity: GLYCOLIC ACID
Source update: 15/10/2010

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for GLYCOLIC ACID

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Key data

CAS

79-14-1

201-180-5

Restriction

—

Function

BUFFERING: Stabilising the pH of an aqueous medium in a narrow range even if an acid or base is added. Altering and/or maintaining a cosmetic product's pH at the desired level.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

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

#11338 · GLYCOLIC ACID

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

GLUCURONIC ACIDBUFFERING, CHELATING, HUMECTANT

GLUTARIC ACIDBUFFERING

GLYCINEANTISTATIC, BUFFERING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING

GLYCINE HCLBUFFERING

GLYOXYLIC ACIDANTISTATIC, BUFFERING, HAIR WAVING OR STRAIGHTENING

GUANIDINE CARBONATEBUFFERING, SKIN CONDITIONING

GUANIDINE HCLBUFFERING

HUMAN DERMAL FIBROBLAST STEM CELL EXOSOMESBUFFERING; HAIR CONDITIONING; EYELASH CONDITIONING; SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS

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 GLYCOLIC ACID appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists GLYCOLIC ACID 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.

GLYCOLIC ACID is also tagged with 1 cosmetic function 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

GLYCOLIC ACID 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, GLYCOLIC ACID carries the following function designation(s):

BUFFERING

CAS 79-14-1 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.

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Source note for GLYCOLIC ACID

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for GLYCOLIC ACID 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 GLYCOLIC ACID and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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Tools & next steps

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