Coal tar and synthetic dyes
Never allowed
FD&C · D&C · Lake Dye · Red 40 · Red 7 · Blue 1 · CI 45410 · CI 16035 · Aminophenol · Phenylenediamine · Carbon Black · Creosote
Petroleum-derived colorants used to make a product look better on a shelf.
- What it does
- Colour & shimmer
- Our take
- Several are associated with allergic reaction and, in animal studies, with tumor formation. They exist for appearance, which is the weakest justification an ingredient can have. Our color comes from minerals, clays and plants.
- Can it clog pores
- Moderate. Some people on blemish-prone skin react to it. This flag is for the face only, it does not apply to body, hair or home care.
- Instead try
- Iron oxides, mica, clays, fruit and root pigments.
where we disagree
Coal tar and five D&C lake dyes are also on the acne clinics' pore-clogging lists.
What we read
- IARC; 21 CFR 74 · reviewed Sep 2026
Every other ingredient, with the same treatment.
MADE SAFE certifiednot-plastic packaging