Is EQUOL safe to use in EU cosmetics?

EQUOL 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 EQUOL serve in cosmetics?

According to the EU CosIng inventory, EQUOL carries the following function designation(s): ANTIOXIDANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING.

What other records share CAS 531-95-3?

CAS 531-95-3 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 EQUOL?

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 8682615/10/2010

EQUOL

S)-3,4-Dihydro-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-7-ol

EQUOL 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

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 531-95-3

CAS 531-95-3PubChem CID 91469

Equol

Equol is a member of hydroxyisoflavans. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: (3S)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-7-ol

Molecular formula: C15H14O3
Molecular weight: 242.27 g/mol
Exact mass: 242.094294304 Da
XLogP3: 3.0
Topological polar surface area: 49.7 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 2
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 3
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 1

Also known as

(S)-Equol(-)-(S)-Equol(-)-EquolS-Equol2H-1-Benzopyran-7-ol, 3,4-dihydro-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-, (3S)-4',7-Dihydroxyisoflavan4',7-Isoflavandiol(S)-(-)-4',7-Isoflavandiol

16 more reported names

(3S)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-7-ol2T6D2HPX7Q(3S)-3,4-Dihydro-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-7-ol3' Hydroxy Equol6' Hydroxy Equol4' O Methyl EquolEquol, 4'-O-MethylRefChem:5910314' methoxy 7 isoflavanol208-522-2(S)-3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)chroman-7-ol(S)-3,4-Dihydro-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-7-ol(3S)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chroman-7-olCHEBI:34741CCG-266891CS-7937

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:34741
ChEMBL:CHEMBL198877
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID0022309
PubMed:22286043
PubMed:16497524
PubMed:15084758

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 EQUOL

INCI name

EQUOL

Description

S)-3,4-Dihydro-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-7-ol

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 86826
Imported identity: EQUOL
Source update: 15/10/2010

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for EQUOL

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Key data

CAS

531-95-3

208-522-2

Restriction

—

Function

ANTIOXIDANT: Inhibiting reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.
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.
SKIN CONDITIONING: Maintaining the skin in good condition.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

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

#9903 · EQUOL

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATEANTIOXIDANT

EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATYL GLUCOSIDEANTIOXIDANT, SKIN CONDITIONING

EPIMEDIUM SAGITTATUM LEAF/STEM EXTRACTANTIOXIDANT, FLAVOURING

EQUISETUM FLUVIATILE EXTRACTANTIOXIDANT

EREMANTHUS ERYTHROPAPPUS LEAF OILANTIOXIDANT

EREMANTHUS ERYTHROPAPPUS WOOD EXTRACTANTIOXIDANT

EREMOCHLOA OPHIUROIDES EXTRACTANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT

EREMOPHILA LONGIFOLIA LEAF EXTRACTANTIOXIDANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING

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 EQUOL appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists EQUOL 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.

EQUOL is also tagged with 3 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

EQUOL 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, EQUOL carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 531-95-3 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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Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or compare this substance across all supported market datasets.

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Source note for EQUOL

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for EQUOL 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 EQUOL 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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