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InventoryRef 3858714/08/2020

THIOGLYCOLIC ACID

Mercaptoacetic acid

THIOGLYCOLIC ACID is linked to 1 EU annex record on this page. Inventory note: III/2a.

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Regulatory evidence by market

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MarketEvidence statusRecordsSource language
European UnionEvidence linked
Restricted entry found
Open this evidence		1English and EU languages
Great BritainEvidence linked
Restricted
Open this evidence		1English
CanadaEvidence linked
Restricted
Open this evidence		1English and French
New ZealandEvidence linked
Restricted
Open this evidence		1English
ASEANEvidence linked
Restricted
Open this evidence		1English and national languages
ChinaSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Chinese with selected English material
JapanSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Japanese; official English translation available
South KoreaEvidence linked
Restricted
Open this evidence		1Korean with some English names
United StatesSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0English
AustraliaSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0English
BrazilSource mapped
Official source mapped; ingredient rule not imported
0Portuguese with INCI crosswalks
IndiaEvidence linked
Restricted
Open this evidence		1English and Hindi
Saudi ArabiaEvidence linked
Restricted
Open this evidence		1Arabic and English

Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 68-11-1
CAS 68-11-1PubChem CID 1133

Thioglycolic Acid

Thioglycolic acid is a sulfur-containing carboxylic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a thioglycolate(1-). — ChEBI

IUPAC name
2-sulfanylacetic acid
Molecular formula
C2H4O2S
Molecular weight
92.12 g/mol
Exact mass
91.99320054 Da
XLogP3
0.1
Topological polar surface area
38.3 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
2
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
3
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

mercaptoacetic acid2-Mercaptoacetic acid2-Thioglycolic acidThioglycollic acidAcetic acid, mercapto-Sulfanylacetic acidThiovanic acidMercaptoessigsaeure
16 more reported names
Glycolic acid, thio-USAF CB-35Acide thioglycoliqueGlycolic acid, 2-thio-Mercaptoethanoic acidKyselina thioglykolovaKyselina merkaptooctovaalpha-Mercaptoacetic acidNSC-18947857H94KHMCHEBI:300652-mercaptoethanoic acidRefChem:897804200-677-4Acetic acid, 2-mercapto-mercapto acetic acid
Open full PubChem recordPubChem annotations3D structure image
External database identifiers

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for THIOGLYCOLIC ACID

INCI name

THIOGLYCOLIC ACID

Description

Mercaptoacetic acid

Record provenance

Inventory reference
38587
Imported identity
THIOGLYCOLIC ACID
Source update
14/08/2020
European Commission CosIng source notes

Key data

CAS
68-11-1
EC
200-677-4
Restriction
III/2a
Function
ANTIOXIDANT
Inhibiting reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.
DEPILATORY
Breaking down the mechanical strength of hair fibers so that they can be removed by mild scraping/rubbing.
HAIR WAVING OR STRAIGHTENING
Modifying the chemical structure of the hair, allowing it to be set in the style required (permanent waves or hair straightening).
REDUCING
Changing the chemical nature of another ingredient by adding hydrogen (or removing oxygen).

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

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

#28764 · THIOGLYCOLIC ACID

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

STRONTIUM SULFIDEDEPILATORY
STRONTIUM THIOGLYCOLATEDEPILATORY, HAIR WAVING OR STRAIGHTENING, REDUCING
STYRENE/METHYLSTYRENE COPOLYMERBINDING, DEPILATORY
THIOGLYCERINDEPILATORY, HAIR WAVING OR STRAIGHTENING, KERATOLYTIC, REDUCING
THIOLACTIC ACIDANTIOXIDANT, DEPILATORY, FRAGRANCE, HAIR WAVING OR STRAIGHTENING, REDUCING
ZINC SULFIDEDEPILATORY

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 chemicalsPubChem PUG RESTEU Safety Gate cosmetic product alertsECHA CHEMUS EPA CompToxCosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessmentsFDA Global Substance Registration SystemILO/WHO International Chemical Safety CardsJapan NITE-CHRIPNIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical HazardsOECD eChemPortal

How THIOGLYCOLIC ACID appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists THIOGLYCOLIC ACID as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 1 annex record. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex record shows where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

THIOGLYCOLIC ACID is also tagged with 4 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

THIOGLYCOLIC ACID appears in the EU CosIng inventory and has linked annex records. Check the annex records above for applicable restrictions, concentration limits and conditions of use. Annex II listing means prohibited; Annex III means restricted; Annexes IV, V and VI mean permitted under specified conditions.

The restriction field for THIOGLYCOLIC ACID reads: "III/2a". This is the restriction note recorded in the CosIng inventory for this ingredient. For authoritative conditions and limits, always refer to the linked annex entries above.

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

CAS 68-11-1 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 THIOGLYCOLIC ACID

This page combines the CosIng inventory entry for THIOGLYCOLIC ACID with 1 linked Annex II–VI record from the local dataset built from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials.

Use this inventory page to research THIOGLYCOLIC 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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