Safety Assessment of Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Poly(3-Hydroxyoctanoic Acid), and Polylactic Acid as Used in Cosmetics

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) assessed the safety of Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Poly(3-Hydroxyoctanoic Acid), and Polylactic Acid as used in cosmetic formulations. These ingredients are reported to function in cosmetics as a non-surfactant dispersing agent, a skin-conditioning agent, and an abrasive agent, respectively. The Panel reviewed the available data to determine the safety of these ingredients and concluded that these ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentrations described in this safety assessment.