Polyquaternium-10
Safety Information
The safety of polyquaternium-10 has been assessed by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that polyquaternium-10 was safe as a cosmetic ingredient. In 2005, the Expert Panel considered available new data on polyquaternium-10 and reaffirmed the above conclusion.
Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Review
The Expert Panel reviewed toxicity studies which indicated that polyquaternium-10 has a low order of toxicity. Skin penetration studies indicated that polyquaternium-10 adhered to keratin tissue and was poorly absorbed. Studies using 5.0% polyquaternium-10 indicated that this ingredient was at most only mildly irritating to the skin or eyes, and studies with 2.0% polyquaternium-10 indicated that this ingredient was neither an irritant nor a sensitizer. Similar negative results were obtained from product formulations containing polyquaternium-10; including data indicating that this ingredient was not a photosensitizer.
Polyquaternium-10 was not found to be genotoxic. Polyquaternium-10 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.