Potassium Thioglycolate
A cosmetic ingredient used as depilatory, hair waving or straightening in skincare, haircare, and personal-care products sold in the European Union.
What is it?
Potassium mercaptoacetate
What does it do?
Potassium Thioglycolate is listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient inventory with the following declared functions:
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Depilatory
removes unwanted body hair, typically by breaking down the hair shaft
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Hair waving or straightening
permanently changes the shape of hair through chemical reduction and re-oxidation of the hair's disulfide bonds
EU regulatory status
This ingredient is restricted in the European Union.
Potassium Thioglycolate is listed under Annex III of EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009 (entry 2a). It is permitted only under specific conditions, concentration limits, or in particular product types.
Frequently asked questions
What is Potassium Thioglycolate?
Potassium Thioglycolate is a cosmetic ingredient catalogued in the EU CosIng database. Potassium mercaptoacetate
Is Potassium Thioglycolate allowed in cosmetics in the EU?
Only with restrictions. Potassium Thioglycolate is permitted in EU cosmetics only under specific conditions defined in Annex III of Regulation 1223/2009.
What does Potassium Thioglycolate do in cosmetic products?
Potassium Thioglycolate is declared in the EU cosmetic ingredient inventory with these functions: depilatory, hair waving or straightening.
What is the CAS number of Potassium Thioglycolate?
The CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) number for Potassium Thioglycolate is 34452-51-2.
Related ingredients
Source: EU CosIng database (European Commission). This page is derived from public-sector information published by the European Commission. · Last updated: 15/10/2010