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Ingredient function 296 ingredients · Page 1/6

COLORANT

Exclusively or mainly intended to colour the cosmetic product, the body as a whole or certain parts thereof, by absorption or reflection of visible light. All authorised colorants are substances in the positive list of Annex IV to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.

Definition provenance: European Commission CosIng ingredient-function terminology.

296 ingredients in the EU CosIng inventory carry the COLORANT function designation.

Ingredients with the COLORANT function

Sodium 1-amino-4-(cyclohexylamino)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-dioxoanthracene-2-sulphonate (CI 62045)

CAS 4368-56-3III/195 IV/94

ACID RED 14

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Acid Red 14 is classed chemically as a monoazo color. It conforms to the formula. To identify the colorant allowed for use in the European …

CAS 3567-69-9IV/19

ACID RED 14 ALUMINUM LAKE

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Acid Red 14 Aluminum Lake is an insoluble pigment composed of the aluminum salt of Acid Red 14 extended on an appropriate substrate. To ide…

Chromium, 4-[(4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)azo]-3-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulphonic acid complex

CAS 12220-24-5IV/153

Disodium 2-(2,4,5,7-tetraiodo-6-oxido-3-oxoxanthen-9-yl)benzoate (CI 45430)

CAS 16423-68-0; 1342-25-2Restricted — see record

Disodium 2-(2,4,5,7-tetrabromo-6-oxido-3-oxoxanthen-9-yl)benzoate (CI 45380)

CAS 17372-87-1; 548-26-5II/1334

Acid Yellow 3 Aluminum Lake is an insoluble pigment composed of the aluminum salt of Acid Yellow 3 extended on an appropriate substrate. To…

CAS 68814-04-0IV/82

3',6''-Dihydroxyspiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),9'-[9H]Xanthen]-3-one (CI 45350:1); 2-(6-Hydroxy-3-oxo-(3H)-xanthen-9-yl)benzoic acid

CAS 2321-07-5Restricted — see record

ALUMINUM

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Aluminum is a metallic element.

CAS 7429-90-5IV/117 (CI 77000)

Anthocyanins is a substance obtained by the physical processing of edible fruits or vegetables. Enocyanin. Grape skin extract; Anthocyanins…

CAS 11029-12-2IV/149

Bacillus/Monascus/Houttuynia Cordata Leaf/Rice Bran Ferment Filtrate is a filtrate of the product obtained by the fermentation of the leave…

Beetroot Red is a colour additive obtained as an aqueous extract of the roots of red beets and contains betanine as the principal pigment.

CAS 7659-95-2; 89957-88-0; 89957-89-1IV/148

Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf is the leaf derived from Brassica oleracea acephala. The accepted scientific name for Brassica oleracea ace…

Phenol, 4,4'-(3H-2,1-benzoxathiol-3-ylidene)bis[2,6-dibromo-3-methyl-,S,S-dioxide

CAS 76-60-8IV/152

Phenol, 4,4'-(3H-2,1-benzoxathiol-3-ylidene)bis[2-bromo-3-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-, S,S-dioxide

CAS 76-59-5IV/151

CALCIUM FERRITE

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Calcium Ferrite is the inorganic compound that conforms to the formula

CAS 12013-33-1

Capsanthin/Capsorubin is a coloring material derived from paprika oleoresin. It is a mixture of pigments consisting predominantly of capsan…

CAS 465-42-9IV/147

Caramel is the concentrated solution obtained from heating sucrose or glucose solutions.

CAS 8028-89-5IV/146

Chlorophyl Cu Complex,Chlorophyllin, Copper Sodium Complex,CI 75810,Copper Sodium Chlorophyllin,Natural Green 3,Potassium Sodium Copper Chl…

CAS 11006-34-1

Sodium tris(1,2-naphthoquinone 1-oximato-O,O')ferrate(1-)

CAS 16143-80-9IV/1

Trisodium tris[5,6-dihydro-5-(hydroxyimino)-6-oxonaphthalene-2-sulphonato(2-)-N5,O6]ferrate(3-)

CAS 19381-50-1Restricted — see record

Disodium 5,7-dinitro-8-oxidonaphthalene-2-sulphonate

CAS 846-70-8IV/3 (CI 10316) III/214 (Acid Yellow 1)

2-[(4-Methyl-2-nitrophenyl)azo]-3-oxo-N-phenylbutyramide

CAS 2512-29-0IV/4

2-[(4-Chloro-2-nitrophenyl)azo]-N-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-oxobutyramide

CAS 6486-23-3IV/5

2-[(4-Methoxy-2-nitrophenyl)azo]-3-oxo-N-(o-tolyl)butyramide

CAS 6371-96-6IV/6

4-(Phenylazo)resorcinol

CAS 2051-85-6Restricted — see record

4-[(4-Ethoxyphenyl)azo]naphthol

CAS 6535-42-8Restricted — see record

1-[(2-Chloro-4-nitrophenyl)azo]-2-naphthol

CAS 2814-77-9Restricted — see record

These widely assigned CosIng terms provide populated comparison pages; they are not presented as semantic equivalents of the current function.

How the COLORANT function is used in CosIng

The COLORANT function is assigned by the European Commission in the CosIng ingredient inventory. This page currently lists 296 ingredients carrying that function label in the dataset, which helps you move from a functional claim to the exact ingredients that use it.

Exclusively or mainly intended to colour the cosmetic product, the body as a whole or certain parts thereof, by absorption or reflection of visible light. All authorised colorants are substances in the positive list of Annex IV to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.

Function assignments come from official EU CosIng data. They describe intended cosmetic use, but they do not replace regulatory review of each linked ingredient and any annex records tied to it.

Frequently asked questions

The COLORANT function, as defined in the EU CosIng database, describes the role this group of ingredients plays in a cosmetic formulation. There are currently 296 ingredients in the EU CosIng inventory assigned this function. Function labels are standardised terms used in Product Information Files (PIF) and ingredient declarations.

Yes. An ingredient's function in the CosIng inventory is independent of its regulatory status. An ingredient with the COLORANT function may also be listed in Annex II (prohibited), Annex III (restricted), or other annexes. Always check each ingredient's annex records for applicable conditions before formulating.

Ingredient functions are documented in the Product Information File (PIF) as part of the cosmetic product safety assessment. They describe the intended role of each ingredient in the formulation and support the safety assessor's review. Functions do not appear on consumer-facing product labels, which list only INCI names.

Use the INCI Checker to paste your full ingredient list and screen it against all Annex II–VI restrictions, CMR classifications and allergen flags from the EU CosIng database.

Tools & next steps

Check your formula

Scan a full INCI list, then review which matched ingredients are tagged with the COLORANT function.

INCI Checker

Browse all functions

See the full list of cosmetic ingredient function categories in the EU CosIng inventory.

All functions

Review linked regulatory evidence

196 ingredients in this function have structured links to EU annex records.

Review ingredients