PENTETIC ACID

Also known as: Pentetic Acid

INCI: PENTETIC ACID | Function: Chelating Agent | Type: Synthetic chelating agent (DTPA — diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)

What Is PENTETIC ACID?

Pentetic Acid (DTPA) is a synthetic polyaminocarboxylic acid chelating agent. It binds to metal ions with high affinity, preventing them from catalyzing oxidation reactions or interfering with surfactants. Used as an antioxidant synergist and preservative booster in rinse-off and leave-on products.

Key Skin Benefits

+ Powerful chelation — binds iron, copper, calcium, magnesium
+ Antioxidant synergist — enhances Vitamin C/E stability
+ Preservative booster — improves antimicrobial system efficacy
+ Prevents rancidity in oil-containing products

Pros

+ Stronger than EDTA for certain metals
+ Enhances antioxidant and preservative systems
+ Widely used — extensive safety data

Cons

− Synthetic — fully laboratory-produced
− May cause mild irritation at very high concentrations
− Environmental persistence concern (slowly biodegradable)

Specifications

Property	Value
Usage Areas	Face, Body
Product Type	Leave-On, Rinse-Off
Source	Synthetic
Natural Level	Synthetic

Safety Ratings

Metric	Rating
Skin Sensitivity	1/5 (very low)
Comedogenic Rating	0/5
EWG Score	4/10

Regional Regulatory Limits

Region	Leave-on %	Rinse-off %	Status
EU (CosIng)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
US (CIR/FDA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
Japan (MHLW)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
ASEAN	No limit	No limit	Allowed
China (NMPA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed

Typical Usage % by Product Type

Product Type	Typical %
Antioxidant serum	0.05 - 0.2%
Preservative system booster	0.05 - 0.3%
Cleanser	0.1 - 0.5%

References

CIR — Safety Assessment of DTPA. PMID: 12472622
EU CosIng Database — Listed as chelating.
SpecialChem — Pentetic Acid cosmetic ingredient

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