Excellent Cosmetic Ingredient

CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown)

INCI: CI 77489

CAS Number
1317-61-9
Function
Colorant. Synthetically prepared mixed iron oxide pigment (ferrous-ferric oxide mixture, FeO·Fe2O3) producing brown hues. Also known as Iron(II,III) Oxide or magnetite-type brown iron oxide. Provides warm brown tones to cosmetic formulations. Used in foundations, face powders, eye shadows, mascaras, brow products, and skin-tone cosmetics. Part of the iron oxide family of colorants, which are among the most widely used inorganic pigments in cosmetics globally.
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Iron oxides (including brown variants, CI 77489) are listed as color additives exempt from certification under 21 CFR 73.2250. May be safely used for coloring cosmetics generally, including cosmetics applied to the area of the eye, in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice. Purity specifications include limits on arsenic (max 3 ppm), lead (max 10 ppm), and mercury (max 3 ppm).

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Excellent regulatory profile and safety record as a member of the iron oxide pigment family. Permitted in all EU cosmetics and all US cosmetics without product type restriction. FDA permits use in eye-area products. Synthetically prepared to meet strict purity specifications. Among the most widely used and best-studied inorganic colorants in cosmetics worldwide.

⚠️
Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

inorganic-colorant iron-oxide mineral-pigment eu-annex-iv eu-unrestricted fda-exempt-certification eye-area-permitted synthetic-pigment brown-pigment

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown) safe in cosmetics?

Excellent regulatory profile and safety record as a member of the iron oxide pigment family. Permitted in all EU cosmetics and all US cosmetics without product type restriction. FDA permits use in eye-area products. Synthetically prepared to meet strict purity specifications. Among the most widely used and best-studied inorganic colorants in cosmetics worldwide. The EU classifies CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown) as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown) allowed in the EU?

CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown) EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown) do in cosmetics?

CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown) functions as: Colorant. Synthetically prepared mixed iron oxide pigment (ferrous-ferric oxide mixture, FeO·Fe2O3) producing brown hues. Also known as Iron(II,III) Oxide or magnetite-type brown iron oxide. Provides warm brown tones to cosmetic formulations. Used in foundations, face powders, eye shadows, mascaras, brow products, and skin-tone cosmetics. Part of the iron oxide family of colorants, which are among the most widely used inorganic pigments in cosmetics globally.. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1317-61-9.

What is the Margin of Safety for CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown)?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

Compliance Tools

Check CI 77489 (Iron Oxide Brown) compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
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