Ingredient

COLOPHONIUM

Name / description

Colophonium; Colophony, Rosin

Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

BINDING

Ensures the cohesion of powdered products

DEPILATORY

Removes unwanted body hair

FILM FORMING

Produces a continuous film on skin, hair and / or nails

VISCOSITY CONTROLLING

Increases or decreases the viscosity of cosmetic products

Origin

plant (Information may exclusively reflect the status at initial entry of this ingredient into the relevant INCI dictionary; technological progress may have added new manufacturing options based on substances of different origin)

Occurrence in cosmetics

Various cosmetics (more particularly, natural cosmetics)

Occurrence in other products

Medicinal products and medical devices (such as plasters or dental impression pastes); floor coatings; varnishes, polishes and waxes; paints and glues (more particularly, natural ones); cooling lubricants; stationery

Background information on use in cosmetics

The main component is the abietic acid, which is a natural constituent of the tree resin of spruces, pines, larches and firs.

Why are we talking about it?

Colophony is accused of inducing allergies (sensitising). The facts: Studies have confirmed the sensitising potential of colophony. It is a well-known contact allergen. Colophony is a resin coming from conifers (the trees of the pine species) and is widely used, including outside cosmetic products (in the glue used in plasters, for instance). It is however less and less present in cosmetic products. Colophony is one of the allergens systematically tested in epicutaneous tests (allergy tests). Key points to take away: Colophony is a known contact allergen. Sensitised people should avoid using products containing it by checking the list of ingredients. Professionals in contact with products containing colophony should take precaution measures to limit their contact with the product.

Further information

For the clarification of a suspicion of a contact allergy this substance can be routinely tested in the epicutaneous test at the dermatologist.

Belongs to the following substance groups

Binders

Film-forming agents

Ingredients for chemical hair removal / depilation

Surfactants

Thickening agents / consistency regulators

Regulating cosmetics

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

Understanding your cosmetics

How are cosmetics kept safe in Europe?

Strict laws make sure that cosmetics and personal care products sold in the European Union are safe for people to use. Companies, national and European regulatory authorities share the responsibility of keeping cosmetic products safe.

What should I know about endocrine disruptors?

Some ingredients used in cosmetic products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic some of the properties of our hormones. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt our endocrine system. Many substances, including natural ones, mimic hormones but very few, and these are mostly potent medicines, have ever been shown to cause disruption of the endocrine system. The rigorous product safety assessments by qualified, scientific experts that companies are legally obliged to carry out cover all potential risks, including potential endocrine disruption.

Are cosmetics tested on animals? No!

In the European Union, testing cosmetics on animals has been fully banned since 2013. Over the last 30 years, long before a ban was in place, the cosmetics and personal care industry has invested in research and development to pioneer alternatives to animal testing tools to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and products.

What about allergens in cosmetics?

Many substances, natural or man-made, have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Cosmetics and personal care products may contain ingredients that can be allergenic for some people. This does not mean that the product is not safe for others to use.

Database

Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.

In the digital world we live in, there’s a deluge of information on cosmetics. However, it can be difficult to know which sources are reliable. COSMILE Europe is a European cosmetic ingredient database that offers reliable, verified and scientifically supported information on almost 30,000 ingredients used in cosmetics.

This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.

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