Common Name(s): Ibuprofen,ibuprofen,prohibited nsaid pharmaceutical,drug not cosmetic
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Prohibited in eu cosmetics. ibuprofen is a pharmaceutical drug whose primary pharmacological mechanism (cox-1/cox-2 inhibition for analgesia/anti-inflammation) places it firmly in the drug category, making its presence incompatible with cosmetic classification.
Why It's Used: The drug/cosmetic boundary is crossed when an ingredient's primary function is pharmacological (treating disease) rather than cosmetic (altering appearance) — ibuprofen's cox inhibition providing analgesia is unambiguously pharmacological.
How It Works: Ibuprofen (propionic acid nsaid): non-selective cox-1/cox-2 active site competitive inhibition → reduced prostaglandin synthesis → analgesia, anti-pyrexia, anti-inflammation. these primary pharmacological mechanisms define ibuprofen as a drug with no valid cosmetic rationale.
Typically Found In: Prohibited in cosmetics
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: Prohibited
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required
Halal Status: Unverified - supplier confirmation required
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: the record's own source_notes does not assert a non-animal origin, or instructs the reader to verify with the supplier; "yes" asserts knowledge the record does not hold. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Alternatives for cosmetic anti-inflammatory: botanical nf-kb inhibitors (andrographolide, baicalein, bisabolol), prostanoid pathway modulators (beta-sitosterol, phytosterols), or 5-lox inhibitors (boswellic acids) provide anti-inflammatory activity within the cosmetic classification boundary.
Last Verified: 2026-03-22
Primary Sources: Eu regulation 1223/2009 annex ii,ibuprofen nsaid drug classification review