Is salicylic acid banned or restricted in cosmetics?
Restricted, not banned: the EU permits salicylic acid within limits (Annex III, entry 98; Annex V, entry 3), the lowest cap printed being 0.5% and the highest 3%, depending on the product. California, the EU and FDA's named list, read 23 October 2026, with EWG Skin Deep's score.
SlipperSkin finding
Read on 23 October 2026, salicylic acid is restricted by the EU (Annex III and Annex V) and not listed in California; EWG Skin Deep scores it 6 out of 10.
Is salicylic acid banned in cosmetics?
Restricted, not banned: the EU permits salicylic acid within limits (Annex III, entry 98; Annex V, entry 3), the lowest cap printed being 0.5% and the highest 3%, depending on the product. California does not list it. FDA's named list does not include it. EWG Skin Deep scores it 6 out of 10 (data: robust).
What are the EU limits for salicylic acid?
The EU does not ban salicylic acid; it caps it by product type. The caps below are the annex cells as printed on the EUR-Lex consolidated text of 1 May 2026, with the decimal comma written as a point.
| Where | Annex | Cap, threshold and product type | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex III, entry 98 | Restricted substances | 3% rinse-off hair products | Not to be used in preparations for children under 3 years of age, in applications that may expose the lungs by inhalation, or in oral products |
| 2% other products | Not to be used in preparations for children under 3 years of age, in applications that may expose the lungs by inhalation, or in oral products | ||
| 0.5% body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, roll-on deodorant | Not to be used in preparations for children under 3 years of age, in applications that may expose the lungs by inhalation, or in oral products | ||
| Annex V, entry 3 | Permitted preservatives | 0.5% (as acid) as a preservative | Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age |
Is salicylic acid on California's banned list?
No. It is on neither list (a), in force since 1 January 2025, nor list (b), in force from 1 January 2027, of California's Health and Safety Code section 108980.
What does EWG Skin Deep say about salicylic acid?
EWG’s page gives salicylic acid a hazard score of 6 out of 10 with robust data. Its concerns line reads, in part: Enhanced skin absorption, Endocrine disruption (moderate), Multiple, additive exposure sources (low moderate), and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low moderate). The use-restrictions concern is none listed, although the EU restricts it. The score is a hazard score on EWG's own scale; it is not a regulatory status.
Where is this read from?
- EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, consolidated 1 May 2026 (EUR-Lex)
- California Health and Safety Code section 108980
- FDA: prohibited and restricted ingredients in cosmetics
- EWG Skin Deep: Salicylic acid
- PubChem: compound 338 (CAS 69-72-7)
Salicylic acid products on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
More ingredient files: Benzyl alcohol · Sodium benzoate · Potassium sorbate · all 66 ingredient files
Method: California's section 108980 and the EU's annexes were read in Chrome on 23 October 2026; EU lookups are by CAS number (69-72-7) across Annexes II, III, V and VI; EWG's page was kept only if its name matched exactly; the PubChem link is the compound the CAS number resolves to. Statutes change and EWG revises pages, nothing here is a safety verdict, and an ingredient that is not on a list is not endorsed.