Salicylic Acid
Decode Label flags Salicylic Acid as a low concern in cosmetics and personal care (skin irritant). It appears in 6 of the 912 published products we have analysed (0.7%).
The concern
Exfoliating active - not for leave-on use on children under 3; limit in pregnancy
Salicylic acid is a keratolytic acne and dandruff active. EU rules cap it (3% in leave-on products) and bar it from leave-on products for children under three years except shampoos, because it is absorbed through the skin and is chemically related to aspirin. Dermatologists commonly advise limiting high-strength use in pregnancy.
Most relevant to
Cited authority
EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex III (conditions of use); SCCS opinion on salicylic acid
Linked sources: EU-CosIng →
How common it is in this catalogue
Measured across every product Decode Label has analysed — not estimated, and not taken from anyone else's dataset.
By category
Regulatory position
From the published regulation itself. Each row links to its source.
| Authority | Status | Reference | Scope / limit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU-CosIng | Restricted CMR | Annex III 98 | (a) Rinse-off hair products (b) Other products except body lotion, eye shadow, mascara,... max (a) 3.0% (b) 2.0% (c) 0.5% | View → |
Identity
- Canonical name
- Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-
- INCI name
- SALICYLIC ACID
- CAS number
- 69-72-7
- EC number
- 200-712-3
Also appears on labels as
Questions
Is Salicylic Acid safe?
The EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 permits Salicylic Acid in cosmetics only within set limits (Annex III, entry 98). Why it is flagged: Exfoliating active - not for leave-on use on children under 3; limit in pregnancy. Decode Label treats it as a low concern in cosmetics and personal care. It appears in 6 of the 912 published products we have analysed (0.7%).
How common is Salicylic Acid in Indian packaged products?
Decode Label found Salicylic Acid in 6 of 912 published products (0.7%), most often in Skincare, Bath & Body, Haircare.
Is Salicylic Acid restricted or banned anywhere?
Under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (CosIng), Salicylic Acid has 1 restricted entry. Each is shown with its annex reference and a link to the source in the Regulatory position table.
Who should be most careful with Salicylic Acid?
Children; People who are pregnant; People with sensitive skin.
Products containing Salicylic Acid
6 published products, each with its own full analysis.
Related ingredients
Other entries in the register with the same kind of concern.
Method and limits
- Prevalence counts published products whose decoded ingredient list matches this substance or one of its label synonyms, using the same matching the score itself uses. It describes our catalogue of 912 products, not the Indian market as a whole.
- Presence is not dose. An ingredient list gives order, not quantity, unless the pack declares a percentage. Nothing here estimates how much of this substance any product contains.
- A classification is not a verdict on a product. An agency classifies a substance under defined conditions of exposure; whether that matters in a given food or cosmetic depends on route, concentration and use.
- Last updated. This register entry was last changed on 3 November 2026.
- Corrections. Every figure here is reproducible from the sources named. If something is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and say what changed.