Is Umber safe in cosmetics?
Umber has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
EXCELLENT
Cosmetic Ingredient
Umber
INCI: UMBER (MAY ALSO BE LISTED UNDER CI 77491/CI 77492/CI 77499 DEPENDING ON COMPOSITION)
Umber (CAS 1309-37-1 (iron oxide component, CI 77491)) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Cosmetic colorant (brown earth pigment containing iron oxides + manganese. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 1309-37-1 (iron oxide component, CI 77491) →
Function
Cosmetic colorant (brown earth pigment containing iron oxides + manganese oxides)
Editorial assessment
EXCELLENT
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; iron oxides listed under 21 CFR 73.2250 for cosmetic use; synthetic iron oxides preferred for purity compliance
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Umber.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Umber — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
colorant
natural-origin
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Umber allowed in the EU?
Umber EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Umber do in cosmetics?
Umber functions as: Cosmetic colorant (brown earth pigment containing iron oxides + manganese oxides). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 1309-37-1 (iron oxide component, CI 77491).
Compliance Tools
Check Umber compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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Colorant (dark red-brown pigment)
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