Ingredients / Resorcinol
Disliked

Resorcinol

Explained

Resorcinol, or 1,3-benzenediol, is a small phenolic compound with antioxidant, denaturant, hair dyeing, and perfuming properties.

In cosmetics, rescorcinol is mostly found in hair dyes rather than leave-on-face products. Related "resorcinol-type" ingredients can act keratolytic (loosen dead skin cells) but plain resorcinol is not usually found in face products.

In haircare, it is used to create a long-lasting color by participating in dye-forming reactions.

The main downside of this ingredient is allergy risk; it is considered a moderate skin sensitizer in animal data. Human sensitization rates are generally low in broader clinical data.

In the EU, resorcinol is restricted and only allowed under specific conditions for hair products (up to 1.25% hair dye after mixing and up to 0.5% in certain hair lotions/shampoos.

See all 39 products with Resorcinol

Users who like it
20%
Users who avoid it
80%

What it does

Perfuming A substance that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor, especially a volatile liquid distilled from flowers or preparedsynthetically.
Antioxidant A substance that inhibits oxidation, especially one, such as vitamin e, vitamin c, or beta carotene, that protects cellsfrom the sometimes damaging effects of oxidation.

Prevalence

Less common Percentage of products that contain it
0%
Top categories
Haircare
Treatments
Eye Care
Position Predominant list placement
Top 25%
Concentration Concentrations we've seen
2% to 20%

References

health.ec.europa.eu pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CosIng Data

CosIng ID 79461
INCI Name RESORCINOL
EC #  203-585-2
All Functions Antioxidant, Denaturant, Hair Dyeing, Perfuming