Lecithin and similar phospholipid ingredients are safe to use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 50%, where they work as conditioning agents and emulsifiers. While these ingredients do have biological effects in the body, applying them to your skin doesn't trigger those same effects. One caveat: if lecithin comes from cattle, it's not allowed in cosmetics due to FDA restrictions on certain animal-derived materials.

An expert safety panel reviewed existing toxicology data and usage patterns for 17 phosphoglyceride ingredients commonly used in cosmetics to determine if they posed any health risks.

Funding not disclosed in abstract