PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone)

Conclusion

In the 1998 safety assessment of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel (Panel) concluded that this ingredient was safe as used in cosmetic products. ¹ The Panel reviewed newly available studies since that assessment, along with updated information regarding types and concentration of use. ^{2 –26} The Panel confirmed that PVP is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the practices of use and concentration as given in Table 1 and did not reopen the safety assessment.

Table 1.

Historical and Current Use and Concentration of Use Data for PVP. ^1,6,20,21

	Number of uses		Max conc. of use, %
	PVP
Data year	1998	2013	1998	2013
Totalsa	395	799	0.15-35	0.0005-12
Duration of use
Leave-on	283	675	0.15-35	0.002-12
Rinse-off	112	123	0.5-2	0.0005-10.5
Diluted for (Bath) use	NR	1	NR	NR
Exposure type
Eye area	129	222	2-10	0.05-12
Incidental ingestion	2	35	0.5-7.5	0.1-10.5
Incidental inhalation—spray	23	22	0.15-5	0.002-5b
Incidental inhalation—powder	NR	NR	NR	NR
Dermal contact	87	186	1-35	0.0005-12
Deodorant (underarm)	NR	NR	NR	0.5
Hair—noncoloring	205	423	0.15-5	0.0005-10.5
Hair-coloring	5	7	NR	1.6-3.3
Nail	NR	1	NR	0.3-5
Mucous membrane	7	37	0.5-7.5	0.1-10.5
Baby products	1	1	0.5	NR

Abbreviations: NR, not reported; PVP, polyvinylpyrrolidone.

^aBecause each ingredient may be used in cosmetics with multiple exposure types, the sum of all exposure types may not equal the sum of total uses.

^b0.1% to 3.5% reported in aerosol hair sprays; 0.02% to 5% reported in pump hair sprays; 3% reported in an aerosol hair tonic, dressing, or other hair grooming aid; 0.5% to 3% reported in a pump hair tonic, dressing, or other hair grooming aid; 0.42% reported in a body spray.

Discussion

Polyvinylpyrrolidone was reported to have use in a total of 395 products at concentrations from 0.15% up to 35%. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013 reported that there were 799 total cosmetic uses. ⁶ An industry survey ^20,21 of current use concentrations found use concentrations between 0.0005% and 12%. Table 1 presents the available use and concentration of use data.

Polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine, a complex of PVP and iodine, ⁸ is listed in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook as a cosmetic ingredient. The Panel acknowledged that data on this ingredient were incorporated in the 1998 safety assessment on PVP because of the similarities in chemical properties and structure to PVP. Although PVP-iodine could be added to the PVP safety assessment, the Panel stated that it is an approved drug used as an active ingredient in such antiseptics as Betadine and would be reviewed under the jurisdiction of FDA. The Panel determined to not add PVP-iodine to this safety assessment. There are currently no reported uses of PVP-iodine in cosmetics.