Two jobs, two sets of rules
The EU's CosIng database lists salicylic acid as keratolytic (it loosens the bond between dead cells on the skin's surface), as anti-seborrhoeic, and as a preservative, among other functions.1 EU law treats the two main uses separately: as a restricted ingredient in Annex III, and as an allowed preservative in Annex V.2
| Use | Product | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Other than preserving (for example exfoliating) | Rinse-off hair products | 3.0% |
| Other than preserving | Other products, excluding body lotion, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and roll-on deodorant | 2.0% |
| As a preservative | Any cosmetic within the conditions below | 0.5% (as the acid) |
Both entries exclude oral products and anything that could be breathed in, such as sprays. Neither use is allowed in products for children under three, with one exception: as a preservative in shampoo.2
The 2025 look at children's exposure
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety assessed salicylic acid in 2018; the limits above were set the following year.32 In 2025 it looked again at children aged 3 to 10 and concluded that, when several products containing it are used together, the current maximum levels are not safe for that age group; it noted lower levels that would be.4 The committee advises; the European Commission sets the legal limits.
How it appears on a label
As Salicylic Acid. Its salts, such as Sodium Salicylate, have their own names; the EU preservative entry covers the acid and its salts together.2 Willow bark extract is a different ingredient with its own name, even though it sounds related.
What to keep in mind
The SCCS describes salicylic acid as an eye irritant with the potential to cause serious damage to the eye.4 Keep exfoliating products away from the eyes.
The label will not say how much is present, or which of the two jobs it is doing. Separately, the pure substance carries EU hazard classifications, listed below under official sources. Those describe the chemical itself; the cosmetic limits come from assessing the exposure products cause.