Science
Mechanism of Action
As a surfactant, NONYL NONOXYNOL-15 PHOSPHATE works by lowering the surface tension of liquids, which allows for the thorough mixing and dispersion of substances that would otherwise separate. This property enables efficient cleansing by lifting impurities and stabilizes oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions within product formulations.
Research
Clinical Evidence
Low confidenceN/A
Transparency
Dusting Analysis
The Formula
Formulation
Conflicts
- Banned for use in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in the European Union due to environmental concerns.
- Requires careful formulation to ensure unreacted nonylphenol levels are below toxic amounts (typically under 500 ppm).
Safety
Safety Profile
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel deemed Nonoxynols (the parent class including Nonoxynol-15) safe for cosmetic use within current concentrations. However, specific data on phosphate forms like NONYL NONOXYNOL-15 PHOSPHATE is noted as potentially limited. This class of ingredients, Nonoxynols, is prohibited in the European Union for cosmetic and personal care products due to environmental concerns regarding persistence and potential endocrine disruption in aquatic ecosystems, rather than direct human skin safety. Formulators must ensure final products contain less than 500 ppm of unreacted nonylphenol.
Your Skin
Skin Compatibility
Our Assessment
Verdict
While CIR considers related compounds safe for use, the European Union's ban due to environmental concerns, coupled with a noted lack of specific data for the phosphate form and the potential for toxic impurities, makes this ingredient unsuitable for precision skincare formulations.
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