Teach Soap

It is hard to find the right & safe colorants for soaps in my country because of language difference. Also the consumers safety is not paid enough attention so I would like to clarify some colorants for soap making. It would be easier if you guys can give me science names of colorants, especially things like mica (already tried google but cant). Any common safety tip is welcome!

In the US, mica is just mica, no matter what color. We do not need to list anything else. For soap colorants I use FD&C and D&C colorants, like FD&C Blue #1. FD&C means food, drugs and cosmetics.
Any other country will have its own designation as far as colors. You will not find the same name or numbers anywhere else.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Ok thanks. I think that colorants for food or cosmetics in general would be safe enough.

Which country do you live in?

Be aware that colorants for food or cosmetics will bleed or migrate over time.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I am from Vietnam.
Thanks Soapbuddy. I also have just read some helpful notes about colorants too:
http://www.soap-making-resource.com/soa ... g-dye.html

Below is an example of the difference in nomenclature between the US, the European Union and Japan for the same common colorant:

D&C Red 7 Calcium Lake( U.S. Name) CI 15850( EU Name) Red 202 (Japan Name)
The listing for other colorants used in Japan is very much the same as what is shown above. For the inorganic colorants, the Japanese name is usually the same as the chemical or INCI names. In all cases the Japanese colorant name appears on the right hand side of the charts. The name of the pure dye on the left is used for simplicity. These colors are permitted in both the United States and Japan and in some cases the European Union.

FD&C Red 4 Red 504 FD&C Yellow 5 Yellow 4
D&C Red 6 Red 201 FD&C Yellow 6 Yellow 5
D&C Red 7 Red 202 D&C Yellow 7 Yellow 201
D&C Red 17 Red 225 Ext. D&C Yellow 7 Yellow 403
D&C Red 21 Red 223 D&C Yellow 8 Yellow 202
D&C Red 22 Red 230 D&C Yellow 10 Yellow 203
D&C Red 27 Red 218 D&C Yellow 11 Yellow 204
D&C Red 28 Red 104 D&C Brown 1 Brown 201
D&C Red 30 Red 226 FD&C Blue 1 Blue 1
D&C Red 31 Red 219 D&C Blue 4 Blue 205
D&C Red 33 Red 227 D&C Violet 2 Violet 201
D&C Red 34 Red 220 Ext. D&C Violet 2 Violet 401
D&C Red 36 Red 228 FD&C Green 3 Green 3
D&C Orange 4 Orange 205 D&C Green 5 Green 201
D&C Orange 5 Orange 201 D&C Green 6 Green 202
D&C Orange 10 Orange 206 D&C Green 8 Green 204
D&C Orange 11 Orange 207


There are many colorants that are allowed in Japan (and the European Union) that are not permitted for use as colorants in the US. Likewise, there are a great many colorants permitted for use in Japan but not the European Union. It is very important to know and understand each market's individual regulatory status regarding colorants. Below is a list of some colorants permitted in Japan and the European Union, but not the United States. When formulating for the Japanese or European Union markets these colorants are acceptable to use. Listed on the left is the chemical name of each colorant.

FD&C Red 3 (delisted in US) Red 3 Acid Red 18 Red 102
Acid Green 1 Green 401 Acid Yellow 11 Yellow 407
Pigment Yellow 1 Yellow 401 Acid Black 1 Black 401
Pigment Orange 1 Orange 401 Acid Red 52 Red 106
Pigment Red 3 Red 221 Acid Violet 9 Red 401
Acid Red 88 Red 506 Acid Yellow 73 Yellow 202
Pigment Red 49 Red 205 Acid Red 87 Red 230
Pigment Red 49:1 Red 207 Acid Red 51 Red 3
Pigment Red 49:2 Red 206 Vat Blue 6 Blue 204
Pigment Red 49:3 Red 208 Vat Blue 1 Blue 201
Pigment Red 48 Red 405 Pigment Blue 15 Blue 404
Pigment Red 49:3 Red 208 Pigment Blue 28 Cobalt Aluminum Oxide
Pigment Red 48 Red 405 Acid Blue 74 Blue 2

Hope that helps

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

That is very specific. Thanks soapbuddy.
The law here in Vietnam is very not specified and monitored. However I only want to make safe to skin soap. Based on what I read, FD&C, pigments and mica are mostly safe for users except for people who possess very sensitive skin or have allergies. This would make me feel more comfortable in choosing whatever color I like to.

You're welcome.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.