C18-21 ALKANE
C18-21 ALKANE is banned in cosmetics within the EU under Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Review the regulatory details and recent Safety Gate alerts.
Regulatory status as of 2026-08-28 (per the CosIng database).
About the ingredient
C18-21 Alkane is a mixture of alkanes with 18 to 21 carbons in the alkyl chain.
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: II/875 Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated middle, except if the full refining history is known and it can be shown that the substance from which it is produced is not a carcinogen.
Source: the European Commission's official CosIng database and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. How we assess ingredients — full methodology.
- View the entry in the CosIng database (European Commission)
- Open Regulation 1223/2009 in EUR-Lex
- Check the chemical profile in PubChem
Last updated:
Functions in cosmetics
Frequently asked questions
Is C18-21 ALKANE safe in cosmetics?
C18-21 ALKANE is banned in the EU under Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and may not be used in cosmetics placed on the EU market. Cosmetics containing this substance are withdrawn by national inspectorates and reported to the EU Safety Gate database.
In which annex of Regulation 1223/2009 is C18-21 ALKANE listed?
C18-21 ALKANE is listed under reference II/875 Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated middle, except if the full refining history is known and it can be shown that the substance from which it is produced is not a carcinogen. in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. The first part (Roman numeral) indicates the annex: II – prohibited substances, III – substances restricted by conditions, IV – permitted colorants, V – permitted preservatives, VI – permitted UV filters.
What functions does C18-21 ALKANE perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, C18-21 ALKANE performs the following functions in cosmetics: SOLVENT. Functions are defined in the CosIng glossary and describe the technological role of a substance in the finished product.
Are there Safety Gate alerts concerning C18-21 ALKANE?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking C18-21 ALKANE to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.