CI 77891

Name / description

CI 77891; Titanium Dioxide

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

COLORANT

Colours cosmetic products, skin, nails and / or hair

FRAGRANCE FUNCTIONAL

Functional ingredient (excipient) of perfume oils and / or flavours

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Origin

mineral

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Occurrence in cosmetics

As a white pigment in many decorative cosmetics

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Occurrence in other products

Titanium dioxide is widely used as the white pigment eg in paints, coatings and plastics

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Background information on use in cosmetics

Titanium dioxide is a white inorganic (mineral) solid. In nature, titanium dioxide is widespread in the form of the minerals rutile and ilmenite. Titanium dioxide is chemically and thermally very stable (inert) and insoluble. Colourants ensure an appealing appearance of the cosmetic product and serve for the embellishment of the skin and hair. The most frequently used colourants are synthetic; only a few natural substances are available. For colourants, the applicable INCI names are in most cases the so-called Colour Index Numbers, the "CI Numbers". Fragrances or mixtures of fragrances are often referred to in the cosmetics area as "perfuming agents" or "perfume oils" or "parfum oils". On the cosmetic products they are declared with the INCI name "PARFUM". These are undiluted individual substances or their mixtures which originate from natural raw materials or can be produced (semi-) synthetically. They are starting materials for the production of perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne and other perfumed cosmetic products. The average content of fragrances amounts in perfume to 15-30 %, in eau de parfum to 10-14 %, in eau de toilette to 6-9 %, in eau de cologne to 3-5 % as well as in skin creams, shampoos, hair and deodorant sprays to approximately 0.2-1 % and approximately 1-3 in deodorant sticks. The perfume oils include essential oils, resinoids and absolutes. The sources are, amongst others, flowers, leaves and stems, fruits and fruit peels or roots of plants; woods, grasses or herbs, needles, resins and balsams. Moreover, only compounds isolated from natural products such as aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols etc. are used (geraniol, citronellal, citral, eugenol, menthol) as well as semi-synthetic (citronellol, geranyl acetate, jonone) and synthetic scents (eg phenylethyl alcohol and linalool) are used. Scents of animal origin such as musk and ambra are only rarely used.

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Information on safe use

According to the EC Cosmetics Regulation [Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009], which applies to the entire EU market, colourants are defined as substances which are exclusively or mainly intended to colour the cosmetic product, the body as a whole or certain parts thereof, by absorption or reflection of physical light. Annex IV of the Regulation defines the substances which may be used as colourants in cosmetic products. In this positive list of colourants maximum concentrations are defined in part for the use of these substances in cosmetic products as well as the permitted areas of application. Hair colourants are currently still separately regulated in the EC Cosmetics legislation. In future it is planned to include them also into Annex IV. Colourants are examined prior to their authorisation in Annex IV selectively for their toxicological safety and subjected to extensive tests. The manufacturers must prove the health safety in extensive scientific studies. Moreover, the approved colorants are reassessed and the list is updated accordingly in line with new scientific findings and in the event of suspected adverse events evident from market surveillance.

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Why are we talking about it?

Titanium dioxide is suspected of being carcinogenic by inhalation and genotoxic by the oral route. The facts: Studies have shown that titanium dioxide is potentially carcinogenic by the respiratory route (inhalation) (2). This potential is not specific to it, as it has also been found for mineral particles of the same size. However, epidemiological data have not shown any link between exposure to titanium dioxide and the development of lung cancers in humans (3). The mechanism involved is specific to the lung area. This is why titanium dioxide has been classified at European level as a possible carcinogen by inhalation (category 2). Therefore, titanium dioxide in powder form with small particle size is not used in cosmetic products that are likely to be inhaled, such as sprays (5). The use of titanium dioxide on the skin is considered to be safe, as its skin absorption is low. Last, studies have shown the absence of carcinogenic potential by the skin route (4). Key points to take away: The use of titanium dioxide in cosmetic products, by the skin route and therefore without respiratory or oral exposure, is considered safe at the authorised concentrations (1). Sources: (1) Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009; Annex VI (2) Opinion of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC), 2017: https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/682fac9f-5b01-86d3-2f70-3d40277a53c2 (3) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 2006: https://monographs.iarc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono93.pdf (4) CLH report: Proposal for harmonised classification and labelling, 2016: https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/594bf0e6-8789-4499-b9ba-59752f4eafab (5) Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety on TiO2: https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-11/sccs_o_238.pdf

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Further information

Concerning titanium dioxide as a UV filter, see the INCI names TITANIUM DIOXIDE and TITANIUM DIOXIDE (NANO)

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Belongs to the following substance groups

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.