◆ Free Tool · US Color Additives · Lip Products
Lip Color Additive
Checker
◆ What It Does
Paste your colorants, FD&C/D&C numbers or CI numbers and see which are allowed on lips, which have a limit (Red 33 and Red 36 max 3%, Orange 5 max 5%) and which are not allowed — such as ultramarines and iron blue, which are “externally applied” only. Based on 21 CFR Parts 73 and 74. US rules.
Check Your
Colorants
Quick reference from 21 CFR Parts 73 and 74 (Subpart C). Not legal advice. Certified colors must come from FDA-certified batches. EU rules differ.
Want lip products made with lip-safe colors? We make private label lip oil, gloss, lipstick and liner from 100 units per shade. Private label lip products → · Lip regulations guide →
Full List
All 60 Cosmetic
Color Additives
27 allowed on lips · 4 allowed with a limit or condition · 29 not allowed on lips.
| Color additive | On lips? | Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Annatto | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2030 |
| Caramel | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2085 |
| Carmine | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2087 |
| β-Carotene | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2095 |
| Bismuth oxychloride | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2162 |
| Iron oxides | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2250 |
| Guanine | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2329 |
| Mica | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2496 |
| Titanium dioxide | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2575 |
| Zinc oxide | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2991 |
| Bronze powder | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2646 |
| Copper powder | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2647 |
| Manganese violet | Yes | 21 CFR 73.2775 |
| Ultramarines (blue, violet, pink, green) | No | 21 CFR 73.2725 |
| Ferric ferrocyanide (iron blue) | No | 21 CFR 73.2299 |
| Ferric ammonium ferrocyanide | No | 21 CFR 73.2298 |
| Chromium oxide greens | No | 21 CFR 73.2327 |
| Chromium hydroxide green | No | 21 CFR 73.2326 |
| Aluminum powder | No | 21 CFR 73.2645 |
| Pyrophyllite | No | 21 CFR 73.2400 |
| Dihydroxyacetone | No | 21 CFR 73.2150 |
| Guaiazulene | No | 21 CFR 73.2180 |
| Luminescent zinc sulfide | No | 21 CFR 73.2995 |
| Silver | No | 21 CFR 73.2500 |
| Henna | No | 21 CFR 73.2190 |
| Bismuth citrate | No | 21 CFR 73.2110 |
| D&C Black No. 2 (carbon black) | Limited | 21 CFR 74.2052 |
| D&C Black No. 3 (bone black) | No | 21 CFR 74.2053 |
| FD&C Blue No. 1 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2101 |
| D&C Blue No. 4 | No | 21 CFR 74.2104 |
| D&C Brown No. 1 | No | 21 CFR 74.2151 |
| FD&C Green No. 3 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2203 |
| D&C Green No. 5 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2205 |
| D&C Green No. 6 | No | 21 CFR 74.2206 |
| D&C Green No. 8 | No | 21 CFR 74.2208 |
| D&C Orange No. 4 | No | 21 CFR 74.2254 |
| D&C Orange No. 5 | Limited | 21 CFR 74.2255 |
| D&C Orange No. 10 | No | 21 CFR 74.2260 |
| D&C Orange No. 11 | No | 21 CFR 74.2261 |
| FD&C Red No. 4 | No | 21 CFR 74.2304 |
| D&C Red No. 6 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2306 |
| D&C Red No. 7 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2307 |
| D&C Red No. 17 | No | 21 CFR 74.2317 |
| D&C Red No. 21 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2321 |
| D&C Red No. 22 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2322 |
| D&C Red No. 27 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2327 |
| D&C Red No. 28 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2328 |
| D&C Red No. 30 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2330 |
| D&C Red No. 31 | No | 21 CFR 74.2331 |
| D&C Red No. 33 | Limited | 21 CFR 74.2333 |
| D&C Red No. 34 | No | 21 CFR 74.2334 |
| D&C Red No. 36 | Limited | 21 CFR 74.2336 |
| FD&C Red No. 40 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2340 |
| D&C Violet No. 2 | No | 21 CFR 74.2602 |
| FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2705 |
| FD&C Yellow No. 6 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2706 |
| D&C Yellow No. 7 | No | 21 CFR 74.2707 |
| D&C Yellow No. 8 | No | 21 CFR 74.2708 |
| D&C Yellow No. 10 | Yes | 21 CFR 74.2710 |
| D&C Yellow No. 11 | No | 21 CFR 74.2711 |
FAQ
Lip Color
Questions
Those listed for "cosmetics generally" or specifically for lips — for example iron oxides, mica, titanium dioxide, carmine, D&C Red No. 6, 7, 21, 22, 27, 28, 30, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5 and 6 and FD&C Blue No. 1. D&C Red No. 33 and 36 are limited to 3% and D&C Orange No. 5 to 5% in lip products.
No, not in the US. Ultramarines are listed only for externally applied cosmetics, and 21 CFR 70.3 says externally applied does not include the lips.
Cosmetics applied only to external parts of the body and not to the lips or any body surface covered by mucous membrane (21 CFR 70.3).
Lakes of certified colors are listed separately but generally follow the uses of the straight color. Check the specific listing, and use certified batches.
No — it checks US rules only. In the EU, colorants are listed in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 with their own field-of-use conditions; for example, ultramarines are permitted in EU lip products.
No. It is a quick reference built from 21 CFR Parts 73 and 74. Always check the current regulation and your supplier's documents before production.
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Sources
- 21 CFR Part 73 Subpart C — Color additives exempt from certification (cosmetics)
- 21 CFR Part 74 Subpart C — Certified color additives (cosmetics)
- 21 CFR 70.3 — Definitions ("externally applied" excludes the lips)
General information, not legal advice. Requirements depend on your final formula, claims and markets.
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Lip-Safe
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