Astaxanthin is a carotenone that consists of beta,beta-carotene-4,4'-dione bearing two hydroxy substituents at positions 3 and 3' (the 3S,3'S diastereomer).
How much products actually contain
No product states its amount yet.
Of the products containing it, 15 list it before the 1% line and 61 after it (usually 1% or less).
Products using this ingredient
12 of 75 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 75
VTRetinal Peptide Daily Mask 360g / 25 Sheets
VTRetinal Peptide Spot Cream
VTVitamin C Astaxanthin Mask 320g / 30 Sheets
SidmoolVitamin C Energy Moisture Gel
Susanne KaufmannSusanne Kaufmann Mineral Body Lotion
DermafirmAge Reviving Micro Crystal Patch (1 Pouch: 2 Under-Eye/Nasolabial Patches + 1 Glabella Patch)
teeheeheeProtecting Beet Clay Mask Stick
ResnovaeMelano Cut Brightening Ampoule 30ml
teeheeheeSoothing Oat Clay Mask Stick
ISNTREEHyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel 50ml
FarmacyFarmacy Bright On Vitamin C Eye Cream
ROVECTINROVECTIN Anti-Irritant Barrier Repair Ultra Cream
Definition
Astaxanthin is a carotenone that consists of beta,beta-carotene-4,4'-dione bearing two hydroxy substituents at positions 3 and 3' (the 3S,3'S diastereomer). A carotenoid pigment found mainly in animals (crustaceans, echinoderms) but also occurring in plants. It can occur free (as a red pigment), as an ester, or as a blue, brown or green chromoprotein. It has a role as an antioxidant, an anticoagulant, an animal metabolite, a plant metabolite and a food colouring. It is a carotenol and a carotenone. It derives from a hydride of a beta-carotene.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII 8XPW32PR7I · registered name ASTAXANTHIN · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
- Allowed colourant
- United States
Source: US FDA color additives · US FDA prohibited and restricted ingredients
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name アスタキサンチン: 本品は、次の化学式で表されるカロチノイド系色素である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 472-61-7
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 207-451-4
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID00893777
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID101323822
- IUPAC
- (3S,3'S)-3,3'-Dihydroxy-beta,beta-carotene-4,4'-dione
- Molecular formula
- C40H52O4
- Molecular weight
- 596.852 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Solid · Needles from acetone/light petroleum
- Melting point
- 182-183 °C · Reported as shiny purple platelets with gold luster from pyridine, MP: 216 °C, readily soluble in pyridine
- Melting/freezing point
- 182~183 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 721.28 ℃
- Vapour pressure
- 7.51E-20 ㎜Hg (25℃)
- Water solubility
- 7.9E-10 ㎎/ℓ (25℃)
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 13.27
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 7 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Softener and conditioner3
- Flavouring and nutrient2
- Dye2
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Astaxanthin Function as Colour Source in Ornamental Fish · 2025
- Heterologous Expression of the Plant-Derived Astaxanthin Biosynthesis Pathway in Yarrowia lipolytica for Glycosylated Astaxanthin Production. · 2023
- Benefits of Carotenoid Astaxanthin: A Review · 2022
- Astaxanthin from bacteria as a feed supplement for animals · 2021
- Effect of astaxanthin on cutaneous wound healing · 2017
Linked databases 20
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA color additives
- US FDA prohibited and restricted ingredients
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese