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Ingredient Dictionary

UREA

Urea is a carbonyl group with two C-bound amine groups.

Clinical evidence
  • Dryness B+
  • Skin barrier B
  • Pores D
Amount studies used
5–10%
When
morning and evening
Irritation
low
Korean limit
10%

Grades were set by reading this ingredient’s studies. They describe the ingredient, not every product that contains it.

Molecular structure

How much products actually contain

9 products state the amountmedian 7%67% at or above the amount studies used (5–10%)

  • under 0.01% 0
  • 0.01–0.1% 2
  • 0.1–1% 0
  • 1% or more 7

Amounts are mostly stated by products named after the ingredient, so they may lean towards token amounts.

Of the products containing it, 180 list it before the 1% line and 102 after it (usually 1% or less).

Where no amount is stated, a product listing it early reaches the study amount about 65% of the time, one listing it late about 5%.

Clinical evidence grade by skin concern

B
one or two randomised trials
D
lab work or a record only

Above 10% it exfoliates, so it may sting on broken skin.

2 references

Products using this ingredient

12 of 277 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first · See all 277

Definition

Urea is a carbonyl group with two C-bound amine groups. The commercially available fertilizer has an analysis of 46-0-0 (N-P2O5-K2O). It has a role as a fertilizer, a flour treatment agent, a mouse metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, a human metabolite and a Daphnia magna metabolite. It is a monocarboxylic acid amide and a one-carbon compound. It is functionally related to a carbonic acid. It is a tautomer of a carbamimidic acid.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII 8W8T17847W · registered name Urea · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Draws in and holds moistureHUMECTANTKeeps pH steadyBUFFERINGKeeps skin in good condition (CosIng catch-all)SKIN CONDITIONINGReduces staticANTISTATIC

Safety & regulatory references

Banned
Argentina · ASEAN · Brazil · China · European Union · United Kingdom
Restricted
Taiwan

Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS) · Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist · Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients · Taiwan FDA cosmetic regulations

Canada

  • Conditions of Use by product type : (a) Cosmetics intended to be diluted in bath water (b) Other cosmetics
  • Maximum Concentration Permitted : b) 10%

South Korea

  • Maximum concentration : 10%

Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

Reviewed by CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Urea

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name 尿素: 本品は、次の化学式で表される有機化合物である。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

UREAINCI우레아Korean label name (MFDS standard)尿素Japanese labelling name
CAS No.chemical registry number
57-13-6
EC No.EU chemical inventory number
200-315-5
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
DTXSID4021426
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
DTXCID901426
IUPAC
Urea
Molecular formula
CH4N2O
Molecular weight
60.056 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance
Urea appears as solid odorless white crystals or pellets. Density 1.335 g /cc. Noncombustible. · Dry Powder, Other Solid, Wet Solid, Large Crystals, CBI, Liquid
Odour
MAY GRADUALLY DEVELOP SLIGHT ODOR OF AMMONIA, ESP IN PRESENCE OF MOISTURE · Almost odorless
Boiling point
Decomposes (NTP, 1992) · Decomposes
Melting point
275 °F (NTP, 1992) · 132.7 °C
Solubility
Soluble (NTP, 1992) · 545000 mg/L (at 25 °C)
Density
1.34 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water, will sink · 1.3230 @ 20 °C/4 °C
Viscosity
1.78 mPa-s (46% solution @ 20 °C), 1.81 mP-s @ 137 °C, 1.90 mPa-s (saturated solution @ 20 °C) · 1.78 cP
pH
7.2 (10% solution) · 7.2 (10% water solution)
Dissociation constant
0.1 (at 21 °C) · pKa = 0.10 at 21 °C (conjugate acid)
Colour
white
Melting/freezing point
132.7~135 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits
- / -
Vapour pressure
0.000012 ㎜Hg (at 25 ℃)
Water solubility
545000 ㎎/ℓ (In water, @ 25 ℃)
Vapour density
2.07
Relative density
1.323 (@ 20 °C)
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
-2.11
Molecular weight
60.06

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 185 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.

  • Humectant26
  • Softener and conditioner25
  • Solubility enhancer21
  • Other18
  • pH regulating agent16
  • Processing aids not otherwise specified11
  • Soil amendments9
  • Anti-static agent5
33 other uses
  • No specific technical function4
  • Intermediate3
  • Lubricating agent3
  • Solvent3
  • Binder3
  • Chelating agent2
  • Fuel agents2
  • Adhesion/cohesion promoter2
  • Anti-freeze agent2
  • Solids separation (precipitating) agent, not other2
  • Fuel2
  • Freeze-thaw additive2
  • Reducing agent2
  • Dye2
  • Cleaning agent2
  • Anti-scaling agent1
  • Surfactant (surface active agent)1
  • Deodorizer1
  • Abrasive1
  • Chemical reaction regulator1
  • Flavouring and nutrient1
  • Dehydrating agent (desiccant)1
  • Waterproofing agent1
  • Brightener1
  • Foamant1
  • Catalyst1
  • Pigment1
  • Flame retardant1
  • Monomers1
  • Swelling agent1
  • Flocculating agent1
  • Fragrance1
  • Thickening agent1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

1 skin studies and 2 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low3

The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 3 studies
  • Category 6.3B (Category 3)
    Skin Irritation · Read Across
  • Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
    Eye Irritation · Read Across
  • Moderate or Mild Irritation
    eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Related literature

Linked databases 28

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