Korea Consumer Agency "Use of Allergy-Inducing Tar Dyes in Some Lip Cosmetics"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] As the age group exposed to cosmetics is getting younger, it has been found that some lip cosmetics contain pigments that can cause allergies, requiring caution.

The Korea Consumer Agency announced on the 31st that, as a result of investigating the use of tar pigments in 625 lip cosmetic products distributed in the market, 615 products, accounting for 98.4%, used an average of three types of tar pigments.

Red No. 202, known to cause skin allergic reactions such as cheilitis, was used in 407 products, accounting for 66.2%. Additionally, Yellow No. 4 (43.3%, 266 products) and Yellow No. 5 (51.7%, 318 products), which have been reported to cause hives, asthma, and breathing difficulties in about half of the surveyed products, were also used.

Red No. 102, used in 36 products, and Red No. 2, used in 6 products, are banned for use in food and cosmetics in the United States. However, in Korea, these pigments are only prohibited in products for infants and children under 13 years old. Orange No. 205 is also banned in general cosmetics in the U.S., but in Korea, its use is restricted only in eye cosmetics, raising safety concerns.

The Consumer Agency pointed out that since lip cosmetics are easily purchased by children and adolescents and have a high possibility of ingestion, the use of tar pigments should be restricted. Furthermore, most lip cosmetics have a volume of 10㎖(g) or less and are not required to list all ingredients on the packaging, but the labeling method should be improved so that consumers can check whether tar pigments are included.

Meanwhile, in an investigation of 20 products, heavy metals such as lead and cadmium were not detected, but three products violated the 'Cosmetics Act' by omitting manufacturing numbers or expiration dates. The Consumer Agency plans to recommend labeling improvements and request strengthened management and supervision of lip cosmetic labeling as well as measures to improve the display of all ingredients.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.