Cosmetics
Color Additives Permitted for Use in Cosmetics
April 30, 2008; Updated June 20, 2008
The tables below are provided as a supplement to the information in the Summary of Color Additives Listed for Use in the United States in Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices. They are intended for quick reference to help in determining which color additives may be used in different types of cosmetics, as provided for in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Subparts C of Part 73 (Listing of Color Additives Exempt from Certification) and of Part 74 (Listing of Color Additives Subject to Certification). For additional information on the permitted use, specifications, and restrictions that apply to each color additive, please refer to the appropriate listing regulation, using the links provided in the tables. For more information on the use of color additives in cosmetics in general, please see Color Additives and Cosmetics.
| Color Additive | Eye Area | Generally (Includes Lipsticks) |
External Use | Specific Limitations and Comments |
21 CFR Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum powder | Yes | No | Yes | 73.2645 | |
| Annatto | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2030 | |
| Bismuth citrate | No | No | No | Hair on the scalp | 73.2110 |
| Bismuth oxychloride | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2162 | |
| Bronze powder | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2646 | |
| Caramel | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2085 | |
| Carmine | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2087 | |
| β-Carotene | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2095 | |
| Chromium hydroxide green | Yes | No | Yes | 73.2326 | |
| Chromium oxide greens | Yes | No | Yes | 73.2327 | |
| Copper powder | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2647 | |
| Dihydroxyacetone | No | No | No | Externally applied cosmetics to color the body | 73.2150 |
| Disodium EDTA-copper | No | No | No | Shampoos | 73.2120 |
| Ferric ammonium ferrocyanide | Yes | No | Yes | 73.2298 | |
| Ferric ferrocyanide | Yes | No | Yes | 73.2299 | |
| Guaiazulene | No | No | Yes | 73.2180 | |
| Guanine | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2329 | |
| Henna | No | No | No | Hair on the scalp | 73.2190 |
| Iron oxides | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2250 | |
| Lead acetate | No | No | No | Hair on the scalp; ≤ 0.6% | 73.2396 |
| Luminescent zinc sulfide | No | No | No | Externally applied facial makeup and nail polish; < 10%; for infrequent use (Halloween) | 73.2995 |
| Manganese violet | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2775 | |
| Mica | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2496 | |
| Potassium sodium copper chlorophyllin; Chlorophyllin-copper complex |
No | No | No | Dentifrices; ≤ 0.1% | 73.2125 |
| Pyrophyllite | No | No | Yes | 73.2400 | |
| Silver | No | No | No | Fingernail polish; ≤ 1% | 73.2500 |
| Titanium dioxide | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2575 | |
| Ultramarines | Yes | No | Yes | 73.2725 | |
| Zinc oxide | Yes | Yes | Yes | 73.2991 |
| Color Additive | Eye Area* | Generally (Includes Lipsticks) |
External Use | Specific Limitations and Comments |
21 CFR Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D&C Black No. 2 | Subject to Limitations | Subject to Limitations | Subject to Limitations | Eyeliner, brush-on-brow, eye shadow, mascara, lipstick, blusher & rouge, makeup & foundation, nail enamel | 74.2052 |
| D&C Black No. 3 | Subject to Limitations | No | Subject to Limitations | Eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara, face powder | 74.2053 |
| FD&C Blue No. 1 | Yes (Al lake) | Yes | Yes | 74.2101 | |
| D&C Blue No. 4 | No | No | Yes | 74.2104 | |
| D&C Brown No. 1 | No | No | Yes | 74.2151 | |
| FD&C Green No. 3 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2203 | |
| D&C Green No. 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 74.2205 | |
| D&C Green No. 6 | No | No | Yes | 74.2206 | |
| D&C Green No. 8 | No | No | Subject to Limitations | ≤ 0.01% | 74.2208 |
| D&C Orange No. 4 | No | No | Yes | 74.2254 | |
| D&C Orange No. 5 | No | Subject to Limitations | Yes | Mouthwashes, dentifrices; ≤ 5% for lipsticks | 74.2255 |
| D&C Orange No. 10 | No | No | Yes | 74.2260 | |
| D&C Orange No. 11 | No | No | Yes | 74.2261 | |
| FD&C Red No. 4 | No | No | Yes | 74.2304 | |
| D&C Red No. 6 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2306 | |
| D&C Red No. 7 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2307 | |
| D&C Red No. 17 | No | No | Yes | 74.2317 | |
| D&C Red No. 21 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2321 | |
| D&C Red No. 22 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2322 | |
| D&C Red No. 27 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2327 | |
| D&C Red No. 28 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2328 | |
| D&C Red No. 30 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2330 | |
| D&C Red No. 31 | No | No | Yes | 74.2331 | |
| D&C Red No. 33 | No | Subject to Limitations | Yes | Lipstick products ≤ 3%; mouthwash, dentrifices | 74.2333 |
| D&C Red No. 34 | No | No | Yes | 74.2334 | |
| D&C Red No. 36 | No | Subject to Limitations | Yes | Lipstick products ≤ 3% | 74.2336 |
| FD&C Red No. 40 | Yes (Al lake) | Yes | Yes | 74.2340 | |
| D&C Violet No. 2 | No | No | Yes | 74.2602 | |
| Ext. D&C Violet No. 2 | No | No | Yes | 74.2602a | |
| FD&C Yellow No. 5 | Yes (Al lake) | Yes | Yes | 74.2705 | |
| FD&C Yellow No. 6 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2706 | |
| D&C Yellow No. 7 | No | No | Yes | 74.2707 | |
| Ext. D&C Yellow No. 7 | No | No | Yes | 74.2707a | |
| D&C Yellow No. 8 | No | No | Yes | 74.2708 | |
| D&C Yellow No. 10 | No | Yes | Yes | 74.2710 | |
| D&C Yellow No. 11 | No | No | Yes | 74.2711 |
*Note: Excludes lakes except where noted. Only aluminum lakes on alumina are permitted for designated lakes.