Lapyrium Chloride
What Is It?
Steapyrium Chloride and Lapyrium Chloride are white to light cream-colored powders. In cosmetics and personal care-products, these ingredients are used in hair preparations, including shampoos, as well as in skin care and skin-cleansing preparations.
Why Is It Used?
Steapyrium Chloride and Lapyrium Chloride prevent or inhibit the buildup of static electricity when used in the formulation of hair care products. These ingredients also help to cleanse the skin or to prevent odor by destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms.
Scientific Facts
Steapyrium Chloride, also known as Quaternium-7, is an esterAn organic compound formed by the reaction of an acid with an alcohol. of Stearic Acid. Lapyrium Chloride is an ester of Lauric Acid.
Safety Information
The safety of Steapyrium Chloride, along with Lapyrium Chloride, has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that Steapyrium Chloride and Lapyrium Chloride are safe as cosmetic ingredients.
In 2007, as part of the scheduled re-evaluation of ingredients, the CIR Expert Panel considered available new data on Steapyrium Chloride and Lapyrium Chloride and reaffirmed the above conclusion.
CIR Safety Review: Because of the similarity between the structure of Lapyrium Chloride and the structure of Steapyrium Chloride, the CIR Expert Panel relied on data from both materials in their safety evaluation.
Only a very slight dermal irritation was produced on abraded or intact skin. A 50% solution of Lapyrium Chloride produced slight to moderate erythema (redness) under occluded conditions. Steapyrium Chloride produced very slight ocular irritation under the test conditions.
Steapyrium Chloride was nonmutagenic when tested in a Salmonella/microsome assay, both with and without activation. Steapyrium Chloride was neither an irritant nor sensitizer when tested at 100% in a repeat insult occluded patch.
Steapyrium Chloride does not absorb light in the UVA or UVB range and, therefore, would not be expected to be a phototoxic agent. Steapyrium Chloride and Lapyrium Chloride may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European UnionUnder the general provisions of the cosmetics regulation of the EU, ingredients appearing on the following function-specific annexes must comply with the listed restrictions and/or specifications: colorants (Annex IV), preservatives (Annex V), UV filters (Annex VI) and other ingredients with specific concentration limits and/or other restrictions (Annex III). Ingredients specifically prohibited from use in cosmetic products are listed in Annex II. Other ingredients listed in the EU cosmetic ingredient database (CosIng) may be used without restrictions.. Ingredients of animal origin must comply with European Union animal by-products regulations.
Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…
More Scientific Information
Steapyrium Chloride and Lapryium Chloride are quaternary ammonium salts used as antistatic agents or as antimicrobials in cosmetic and personal care products. Antistatic agents are ingredients that alter the electrical properties of cosmetic raw materials or human body surfaces (skin, hair, etc.) by reducing their tendency to acquire an electrical charge.
Antistatic agents are used as processing aids in the manufacture of cosmetic products and play a role in the formulation of hair products that prevent the condition commonly known as fly-away hair. Antistatic agents may also attach themselves to the skin’s surface by the process of adsorption and thereby modify the skin’s surface characteristics.
Resources
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/