Common Name(s): Naproxen,naproxen,prohibited nsaid pharmaceutical,drug not cosmetic

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Prohibited in eu cosmetics. naproxen is a propionic acid nsaid with primary pharmacological mechanism (cox-1/2 inhibition for analgesia/anti-inflammation) placing it firmly in the pharmaceutical drug category incompatible with cosmetic classification.

Why It's Used: The drug/cosmetic boundary is crossed when the primary function is pharmacological — naproxen's cox inhibition providing pain relief is unambiguously drug activity with no valid cosmetic rationale.

How It Works: Naproxen (s)-2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanoic acid: non-selective cox-1/cox-2 active site competitive inhibition → reduced pge2/pgi2 → analgesia, anti-pyrexia, anti-inflammation. primary pharmacological mechanism defines it as a drug.

Typically Found In: Prohibited in cosmetics

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

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, 5-lox inhibitors, or cox-2 selective botanical inhibitors (boswellic acids, andrographolide) within the cosmetic classification boundary.

Last Verified: 2026-03-22

Primary Sources: Eu regulation 1223/2009 annex ii,naproxen nsaid drug classification review