Ingredient guide
Artificial Colors in Lip Balm
What Artificial Colors does in lip balm and how it's regulated.
About Artificial Colors
Synthetic dyes derived from petroleum or coal tar, used to give cosmetics vivid colors.
Why brands use it in lip balm
Produce intense, consistent, and long-lasting colors at low cost. Natural colorants are harder to stabilize and achieve the same vibrancy.
Regulatory status
- US FDA: Batch-certified by FDA. Some dyes (e.g., Red 3) banned from cosmetics but not food. Others restricted to external use only.
- European Union: Not on the EU prohibited list (some ingredients have concentration limits)
- Canada: Restricted in cosmetics
Common alternatives
Other ingredients formulators use for a similar job in lip balm:
iron oxides
mica
titanium dioxide
fruit and vegetable pigments
carmine (cochineal)
FAQ
What is Artificial Colors?
Synthetic dyes derived from petroleum or coal tar, used to give cosmetics vivid colors.
Why is Artificial Colors used in lip balm?
Produce intense, consistent, and long-lasting colors at low cost. Natural colorants are harder to stabilize and achieve the same vibrancy.
How is Artificial Colors regulated?
Batch-certified by FDA. Some dyes (e.g., Red 3) banned from cosmetics but not food. Others restricted to external use only. Canada restricts its use in cosmetics.
Does Numbrrrz lip balm contain Artificial Colors?
No. Numbrrrz is organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, organic jojoba oil and vitamin E, plus organic essential oils or flavoring in the scented versions. That is a formulation choice, not a judgment about other products.
