Common Name(s): Trolox,trolox,water-soluble vitamin e analog,chromanol antioxidant

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides tocopherol-equivalent chromanol phenolic radical scavenging in a water-soluble format, enabling vitamin e antioxidant activity in aqueous serums and toners where lipophilic tocopherol cannot be incorporated.

Why It's Used: Trolox is selected as the water-soluble vitamin e equivalent — the carboxylic acid modification of the tocopherol chroman ring provides full aqueous solubility while retaining the 6-oh chromanol radical scavenging pharmacophore at a rate constant comparable to alpha-tocopherol.

How It Works: Trolox 6-oh phenol: h-atom donation → peroxyl radical quenching (kperoxyl ~10⁶ m⁻¹s⁻¹, same order as alpha-tocopherol); carboxylate: aqueous solubility; chromanol ring: antioxidant mechanism identical to fat-soluble tocopherol.

Typically Found In: Antioxidant serums,water-based formulas

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – antioxidant

Secondary Functions: Free radical scavenging,anti-aging

Application Areas:

Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%–2%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; well-tolerated.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Vitamin c,vitamin e,ferulic acid,spf,other antioxidants

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Trolox is used as the reference standard in teac (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) assays — providing a direct comparison framework for antioxidant potency of novel cosmetic actives.

Last Verified: 2026-03-22

Primary Sources: Cosing database,trolox water-soluble vitamin e chromanol antioxidant review