Safety Assessment of Glycolactones as Used in Cosmetics

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) assessed the safety of 5 glycolactone ingredients. Glucoheptonolactone and Gluconolactone are reported to function in cosmetics as skin-conditioning agents-miscellaneous, and Gluconolactone is also reported to function as a chelating agent. No functions are reported for the other 3 ingredients. The Panel considered the available data and concluded that Gluconolactone is safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment; however, the Panel concluded the available data are insufficient to make a determination that Galactonolactone, Glucarolactone, Glucoheptonolactone, and Ribonolactone are safe under the intended conditions of use in cosmetic formulations.