Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate

What Is It?

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is a modified starch. Starch is a complex carbohydrate made by plants. In cosmetics and personal care products, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is used in the formulation of lotions, powders, makeup and underarm deodorants.

Why Is It Used?

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate functions as an absorbent, an anticaking agent and a viscosity increasing agent – nonaqueous.

Scientific Facts

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate has been reported to enhance the sun protection factor of Over-the-Counter (OTC) sunscreen formulations. In addition to its use in cosmetics and personal care products, it is also added to food as a modified starch that functions as a thickener and binder.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits modified food starch, including Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate to be added directly to food. The safety of Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate was safe for use in cosmetic formulations provided that established limitations on heavy metal concentrations are not exceeded.

CIR Safety Review: Oral studies of Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate found no evidence of systemic, reproductive or developmental effects. Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate was not found to be an eye irritant or a dermal irritant or sensitizer. The CIR Expert Panel limited concentrations of toxic metals in Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate used in cosmetics and personal care products to the same concentrations established for food-grade modified starches.

More information about aluminum.

FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for 1-Octenyl succinic anhydride, aluminum sulfate (Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate)
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr…

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: 
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

More Scientific Information

Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate is the aluminum salt of the reaction product of octenylsuccinic anhydride with starch. It is used as an absorbent, an anticaking agent and a viscosity increasing agent – nonaqueous.

Resources

Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration

Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm

Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/defaul…

Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/