FDA Colorant Regulations for Cosmetics
Understanding which colorants you can legally use and where you can use them
FDA Colorant Compliance
The FDA maintains a specific list of approved colorants for cosmetics. If your product is classified as a cosmetic, you can only use colorants from this approved list. Unlike other cosmetic ingredients, colorants are the only ingredient type in cosmetics with application-specific FDA restrictions.
The Critical Distinction
A colorant doesn't just need to be FDA-approved - it needs to be approved for your specific application area. A colorant approved for general body use may be restricted from use around the eyes or on the lips. Using a colorant in a non-approved application makes your product adulterated under federal law.
Application-Specific Approval Levels
A colorant can be approved for one, two, or all three application areas:
The SoapMath Color Calculator automatically checks whether each colorant is FDA-approved and flags application restrictions for eyes, lips, and general use. Try the Color Calculator →