- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
When you start formulating cosmetics, one of the most important concepts you’ll come across is the Safety Usage Rate (SUR). At first, it may sound like just another technical term, but understanding it is critical to creating safe, effective, and compliant products.
Let’s break down what safety usage rates are, why they matter, and how they protect both you and the people using your products.
What Are Safety Usage Rates?
A Safety Usage Rate is the maximum percentage of an ingredient that can be safely included
in a cosmetic formulation. These percentages are determined through extensive testing,
toxicological data, and international safety standards.
Every raw material—whether natural or synthetic—has its own unique usage rate.
These guidelines are provided by suppliers, regulatory bodies, and industry references such as:
● IFRA (International Fragrance Association) for essential oils and fragrances
● CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) panel in the U.S.
● EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) in Europe
For Example:
● Liquid Germall Plus: max 0.5%
● Salicylic Acid: max 2% in leave-on products (higher in wash-off)
● Lavender Essential Oil: typically safe at up to 1–2% in leave-on formulas (check IFRA
for exact limits depending on product type)
Why Safety Usage Rates Are Important
1. Protecting Consumer Safety
Cosmetic ingredients can cause skin irritation, sensitization, or long-term health effects if used above their tested limits. Following safety usage rates ensures your products are safe for daily use and won’t cause harm.
2. Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
Every country has cosmetic regulations, and exceeding safety usage rates can result in your
products being pulled from shelves—or even legal consequences. Working within these
guidelines keeps your formulations compliant and market-ready.
3. Maintaining Product Stability
Too much of a raw material can destabilize your formulation. For example:
● Too much preservative may cause skin irritation.
● Too little emulsifier can lead to separation or a product that feels unpleasant on the skin.
● Too high a concentration of an active can make the product ineffective or unsafe to use.
4. Building Trust with Your Customers
Consumers are increasingly educated about ingredients. When you respect safety usage rates and communicate that to your audience, you build credibility and trust in your brand.
How to Apply Safety Usage Rates
1. Always Formulate in Percentages
Percentages make it easy to stay within usage limits, no matter the batch size.
Example: If a preservative has a maximum rate of 1%, then whether you make 100 g or
10,000 g, you’ll never exceed the safe amount if you follow the percentage.
2. Check the Right References
Don’t rely on random internet formulas (recipes). Always use supplier documentation,
IFRA standards, or regulatory databases.
3. Stay on the Lower End if Unsure
If an ingredient has a safe range (e.g., 0.2–0.5%), start at the lower end until you
understand its function in your formula.
Example: Preservative Safety Usage
Let’s say you’re formulating a lotion and choose Liquid Germall Plus. Its maximum usage rate
is 0.5%.
● In a 100 g batch → you can add up to 0.5 g
● In a 1,000 g batch → you can add up to 5 g
If you were to use 1% instead, you’d risk skin irritation, regulatory issues, and product recalls.
Percentages keep you within the safe zone automatically.
Final Thoughts
Safety usage rates aren’t just guidelines—they are the foundation of safe cosmetic science.
They ensure your formulations are effective, stable, legally compliant, and most importantly,
safe for the people using them.
As a formulator, your responsibility is to respect these limits and use them as a non-negotiable part of your formulation process. Doing so not only keeps your products safe but also builds confidence in your skills and in your brand.
