Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Color and makeup Chlorophyllin allowed in US topical cosmetics? Any other green exempt colorants?

  • natzam44

    Member
    February 9, 2021 at 3:27 pm

    My understanding is that you would have to be able to prove that you are not using it as a colourant. As you might imagine, this can be quite the hard sell when your product is greener than grass. 

  • Zink

    Member
    February 10, 2021 at 2:16 pm

    It is an antioxidant but that is perhaps not reason enough? The product is already somewhat green from sencha green tea.

  • natzam44

    Member
    February 10, 2021 at 5:20 pm

    Zink said:

    It is an antioxidant but that is perhaps not reason enough? The product is already somewhat green from sencha green tea.

    I know that in Canada and the US, the regulatory agencies are very strict when it comes to colour in products. The problem with using arguments of function is that there are many ingredients with similar functions. A regulator might question why you didn’t seek another ingredient which wouldn’t change the colour of the product. 

    Keep in mind, that while I have read the laws and regulations, I am not an expert. With that being said, when it comes to possible legal issues, I would recommend erring on the side of caution.

  • Pharma

    Member
    February 10, 2021 at 8:29 pm
    You might get away with the marketing for a copper complex product if, say, you also add copper peptide and/or other copper salts… which are usually blue and might turn your product cyan.
    Else, you’ll have a very hard time justifying chlorophyll in a product. In some countries, chlorophyll is used to mask off-putting smells such as halitosis. If you could add a stinky molecule as ‘active’ and mask its reek with chlorophyll…
    (Sorry, I guess I’ve been watching too much Rick & Morty lately :blush: .)

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