Ingredient

ALUMINUM SESQUICHLOROHYDREX PG

Name / description

Aluminium Chlorohydrate, reaction products with propylene glycol


Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTIPERSPIRANT

Reduces perspiration

ASTRINGENT

Contracting and/or tightening the skin

DEODORANT

Reduces or masks unpleasant body odours


Origin

synthetic


Occurrence in cosmetics

In sweat-reducing cosmetic and bodycare products (antiperspirants)


Background information on use in cosmetics

Antiperspirants based on aluminium salts have proven themselves in decades of practical application against excessive sweat secretion. In cosmetic products aluminium chlorohydrate occurs mainly as antiperspirant ingredient. Antiperspirants or antihidrotics are basically different in their application and effect from deodorants. They regulate sweat secretions; deodorants, by contrast, contain odour inhibiting and antibacterial ingredients which are to mainly absorb and cover the sweat odour. Usual antiperspirants have a sweat-reducing effect of approximately 20 to 60 %. The higher the active ingredient concentration and the lower the pH value of the product, the stronger the efficacy of the antiperspirant. At the beginning of the application the sweat regulating effect increases significantly and remains on a constant level in the event of a regular use. Antiperspirants work by blocking the eccrine sweat gland with a gel plug on the outer layer of the skin, thereby reducing the amount of sweat that reaches the surface of the skin. Since these processes occur on the level of the epidermis, these plugs are gradually repelled in the wake of the skin renewal with the keratinisation process. Moreover, aluminium salts impair the growth of bacteria; hence they also deliver a deodorant effect.


Links to scientific assessments

Opinion of the SCCS (2019) on the safety of aluminium in cosmetic products

Opinion of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR, 2020) on Aluminium

Opinion of the SCCS (2021) on the safety of aluminium in lipsticks


Why are we talking about it?

Aluminium salts are suspected of increasing the risks of breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The facts: The most recent assessment by independent European scientists was published in May 2022. Their conclusion was based on all available scientific data and confirms that cosmetic products containing aluminium salts are safe for consumers, for the following reasons: - Only a very small proportion of aluminum from dermally applied cosmetic products can penetrate the skin, and the total amount of aluminum from cosmetics becoming systemically available via different exposure routes is safe; - There are no reliable indications of a causal association between aluminium exposure and breast cancer; - There are no reliable indications of a causal association between aluminium exposure and neurodegenerative diseases. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) thus concluded that antiperspirants containing aluminium salts are safe, even on shaved or depilated skin. Safety of the use of aluminium salts in cosmetic products was evaluated by numerous expert committees (European, French, German, American etc.) already prior to 2022 on the basis of a comprehensive set of toxicology studies. These studies did not indicate a carcinogenic potential of aluminium salts, whether orally ingested or applied to the skin. Although aluminium may induce neurotoxic effects at high doses in animals, no causal link has been established between aluminium salts and Alzheimer's disease. The presence of aluminium in lesions characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (so-called plaques) does not imply a causal association. In addition to cosmetic products, other sources such as food, drinking water or pharmaceuticals (in particular antacids) do substantially contribute to total exposure of humans towards aluminum. However, even if the assessment is based on total exposure from all known sources, there is no safety concern for consumers. Key points to take away: The numerous studies conducted on aluminum salts have never been able to establish a causal association between aluminum salts applied to the skin and breast cancer or Alzheimer's disease. Recently conducted, scientifically robust studies (2019) using dermal administration of aluminum salts present in cosmetics, including antiperspirants, have confirmed their very low percutaneous penetration (approximately 0.00052 % on healthy skin), which is also insignificant if applied on shaved or depilated skin. Only an extremely small proportion of aluminum present in antiperspirants will become bioavailable, thus no toxic effects have to be expected. The SCCS concluded that exposure to aluminum resulting from daily applications of cosmetic products does not add significantly to the systemic body burden of aluminum from other sources. Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: Opinion SCCS/1613/19 (2019) (https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-11/sccs_o_235.pdf) + Addendum (https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-04/sccs_o_248_0.pdf)


Belongs to the following substance groups


Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.

Understanding your cosmetics

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Strict laws make sure that cosmetics and personal care products sold in the European Union are safe for people to use. Companies, national and European regulatory authorities share the responsibility of keeping cosmetic products safe.

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What should I know about endocrine disruptors?

Some ingredients used in cosmetic products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic some of the properties of our hormones. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt our endocrine system. Many substances, including natural ones, mimic hormones but very few, and these are mostly potent medicines, have ever been shown to cause disruption of the endocrine system. The rigorous product safety assessments by qualified, scientific experts that companies are legally obliged to carry out cover all potential risks, including potential endocrine disruption.

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Are cosmetics tested on animals? No!

In the European Union, testing cosmetics on animals has been fully banned since 2013. Over the last 30 years, long before a ban was in place, the cosmetics and personal care industry has invested in research and development to pioneer alternatives to animal testing tools to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and products.

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What about allergens in cosmetics?

Many substances, natural or man-made, have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Cosmetics and personal care products may contain ingredients that can be allergenic for some people. This does not mean that the product is not safe for others to use.

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Database

Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.

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This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.

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