# FERULIC ACID (ferulic-acid) — Global Cosmetic Regulatory & Formulation Monograph

- **Canonical URL**: https://www.inciname.com/en/ingredients/ferulic-acid
- **Standard INCI**: `FERULIC ACID`
- **KR MFDS Standard Name**: `페룰릭애씨드`
- **CAS No.**: `1135-24-6`
- **EC / EINECS No.**: `214-490-0`
- **Origin**: `synthetic`
- **Functions**: 항균제, 항산화제
- **Molecular Formula / MW**: `—` (— g/mol)

## 1. 7-Track Official Regulatory Label Names
| Track | Official Label Nomenclature |
| :--- | :--- |
| KR (MFDS Standard) | 페룰릭애씨드 |
| KR (Former Names) | — |
| EU (CosIng 1223/2009) | FERULIC ACID |
| US (PCPC / MoCRA INCI) | FERULIC ACID |
| US (FDA OTC Monograph) | — |
| CN (NMPA IECIC) | 阿魏酸 |
| JP (JCIA / MHLW QD) | FERULIC ACID  |

## 2. Layer 1 — Global 6-Region Statutory Summary
- **KR (MFDS)**: `none`
- **EU (1223/2009)**: `none`
- **US (FDA/MoCRA)**: `none`
- **CN (NMPA IECIC)**: `allowed` (Entry: `1020`)
- **JP (MHLW)**: `none`
- **ASEAN (ACD)**: `none`



## 3. Layer 2 — Toxicological & Historical Safe Use Concentrations
- **cn_iecic_max** (leave_on): ≤ 1% — NMPA IECIC (2025) Entry 00112 (2025)
- **cn_iecic_max** (rinse_off): ≤ 0.5% — NMPA IECIC (2025) Entry 00112 (2025)

## 4. Layer 3 — Formulation Quartiles & Compatibility
- **Optimal pH Window**: 4.5 – 7.5
- **Max Process Temp**: ≤ 70°C
- **Synergy Pairings**: —
- **Incompatibilities**: —

## 5. Academic Monograph
Ferulic acid is a cosmetic bioactive that mediates skin physiological effects through aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation, regulating multiple pathways relevant to skin function including collagen synthesis, melanogenesis, barrier integrity, and metabolic signaling.
Ferulic acid is a potent antioxidant with anti-hyperpigmentation properties, with limited photostability and skin permeability that are improved when delivered via cubosomal nanocarriers, which enhance photostability, solubility, and sustained release.
Ferulic acid exhibits competitive inhibition of human tyrosinase with IC50 value of 9.3 ± 0.5 μM and produces measurable anti-melanogenic effects in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells.
Ferulic acid nanoemulsion hydrogel alleviates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation, reducing TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-23 biomarkers and oxidative stress markers while significantly reducing psoriatic histopathological changes.
In integrated skincare around medical aesthetic procedures, ferulic acid is ranked among top five preferred actives for pretreatment and follow-up phases (≥1 week post-procedure) but should be avoided on treatment day due to higher irritation potential.

## 6. Linked PubMed Literature
- [PMID: 42316997] Design, Optimization, and Evaluation of Ferulic Acid-Loaded Cubosomal Cream for Enhanced Topical Delivery and Anti-Hyperpigmentation Efficacy — *Drug Dev Ind Pharm* (2026)
- [PMID: 42271005] Preparation, characterization and in-vivo evaluation of nanoemulsion based hydrogel of ferulic acid in imiquimod-induced psoriasis in rats — *Sci Rep* (2026)
- [PMID: 42269223] Enhanced efficacy of methyl ferulate upon pentanoylation in ameliorating psoriasis via Nrf2/NF-κB pathway regulation and HDACs downregulation — *Biomed Pharmacother* (2026)
- [PMID: 42164887] AHR: The Overlooked Mediator in SkincareBridging Environmental Sensing and Skin Physiology — *Environ Health (Wash)* (2026)
- [PMID: 42123870] Electrospun Fibers Encapsulating Triticum vulgare Extract as a Potential Scaffold for the Regeneration of Subepithelial Connective Tissue — *Molecules* (2026)
- [PMID: 42102696] Drug repurposing for skin pigmentation disorders: Discovery of novel tyrosinase inhibitors — *Bioorg Chem* (2026)
- [PMID: 42087526] International Expert Consensus on Integrated Skincare Active Ingredients for Pretreatment and Posttreatment Use With Medical Aesthetic Procedures to Enhance Skin Benefits — *J Cosmet Dermatol* (2026)
- [PMID: 42066698] Direct assembly of sodium deoxycholate-ferulic acid hydrogels for enhanced transdermal permeation and long-lasting free radical scavenging activity of bioactive ferulic acid — *J Colloid Interface Sci* (2026)
- [PMID: 41999815] Structural modification and biofunctional evaluation of finger millet starch films for topical delivery of ferulic acid — *Int J Biol Macromol* (2026)
- [PMID: 41820398] Ferulic acid promotes hair growth via estrogen receptor alpha activation in cultured human dermal papilla cells — *Sci Rep* (2026)
- [PMID: 41782005] Correction: Multifunctional carbomer based ferulic acid hydrogel promotes wound healing in radiation-induced skin injury by inactivating NLRP3 inflammasome — *J Nanobiotechnology* (2026)
- [PMID: 42123793] Comparison of Selected Pro-Health Biologically Active Chemical Compounds in Salviae herba from Selected Species — *Molecules* (2026)