FERULIC ACID
Antioxidant; Preservative; Ultraviolet Light Absorber; ANTIMICROBIAL
Also listed as
CINNAMIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-; CONIFERIC ACID; 3- (4-HYDROXY) -3-METHOXYPHENYL) -2-PROPENOIC ACID; 2-PROPENOIC ACID, 3- (4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYPHENYL) -; 4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY- CINNAMIC ACID; 3- (4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYPHENYL) - 2-PROPENOIC ACID; 3- (4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYPHENYL) -2-PROPENOIC ACID; 4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYCINNAMIC ACID; 3- (4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXYPHENYL) -2-PROPENOIC ACID; 4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY CINNAMMIC ACID; CINNAMIC ACID, 4-HYDROXY-3-METHOXY-
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
 | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Data gaps |
|
See products containing FERULIC ACID | |
About FERULIC ACID: Ferulic Acid is the organic compound.
ingredient UV blocking strength
| possible* sunscreen concentrations |
UV blocking strength |
|
1.0% |
| |
5.0% |
| |
10.0% |
|
* Skin Deep does not have any concentration information for this ingredient in products. The concentrations shown are only for illustrative purposes.
FERULIC ACID has reported used in the following product types: facial moisturizer/treatment (13); anti-aging (7); skin fading/lightener (2); facial cleanser (2); shampoo (1); mask (1)
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) | Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - prohibited for use in some types of cosmetics | Japan's Standards for Cosmetics |
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show tumor formation at high doses | RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 2000 | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 1990 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 349 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | FERULIC ACID | •Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | FERULIC ACID | •Japan - prohibited for use in some types of cosmetics |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | FERULIC ACID | •Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 1999 | FERULIC ACID | • cancer - Facilitates action of known carcinogen (rat TDLo) • cancer - liver neoplasms (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 2000 | FERULIC ACID | • cancer - Active as anti-cancer agent (rat TDLo) • gastrointestinal - Colon tumors (rat TDLo) • cancer - Protects against induction of experimental tumors (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 1990 | FERULIC ACID | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (mouse LD50) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau. |
| RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 1999 | RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland). (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1975- 143,173,1999 |
| RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland) 2000 | RTECS®- Cancer Letters (Shannon, Ireland). (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1975- 157,15,2000 |
| RTECS®- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 1990 | RTECS®- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. (Japan Pub. Trading Co., USA, 1255 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103) V.6- 1958- 38,1620,1990 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
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