Allantoin
- Type
- Chemical compound
- INCI name
- Allantoin
- CAS number
- 97-59-6
What it is
Chemically allantoin is 5-ureidohydantoin, also called (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)urea. It dissolves poorly in cold water (about 0.5% at 25 °C), better in hot water and alkalis, and hardly at all in apolar solvents such as mineral oil.[1]
For cosmetics it is produced by condensing glyoxylic acid with urea, or by oxidising uric acid. It is stable under ordinary conditions but breaks down in alkaline solutions; it is stored at room temperature away from sunlight.[1]
Use in cosmetics
In US industry data compiled for a 2010 safety review, allantoin was reported in 1376 cosmetic products, at 0.0001 to 2%; for example at about 0.005 to 0.5% in moisturisers and 0.1 to 0.2% in night creams and toothpastes.[1]
It is also supplied as complexes with other substances, such as allantoin ascorbate or allantoin panthenol. These complexes were reviewed as separate cosmetic ingredients.[1]
Safety
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), a US expert panel, assessed the safety of allantoin in 2010. It concluded that allantoin is safe in cosmetics at the concentrations then in use, up to 2%. For several of its complexes, data on how much is used were incomplete.[1]
Products containing it
- Aftershave Gel, Eucalyptus Nun's Valley Madeira (I 139)
- Body Cream With Lavender And Herbs (I 879)
- Leg Cream With Grape Leaf Extract (I 898)
- Shampoo With Calendula (I 778)
- Shampoo With Dead Sea Salt, Viva Activ (I 779)
- Shampoo With Tea Tree Oil (I 777)
- Shower Foam, Vivaderm (I 330)
- Shower Gel, Eucalyptus Nun's Valley Madeira (I 142)
- Skin Cream With Calendula (I 781)
- Skin Cream With Dead Sea Salt, Viva Activ (I 877)
- Skin Cream With Jojoba Oil (I 780)
- Skin Cream With Tea Tree Oil (I 876)