Ci
CI 14700 (Red 4 / Ponceau SX)
CI 14700 · Red 4 · FD&C Red No. 4
A red dye, also called FD&C Red No. 4. In skincare it’s purely for color.
What it does
CI 14700 is the label code for Ponceau SX, a synthetic dye that dissolves in water, used to give a product a red or pink shade.
The EU’s ingredient database lists it as a colorant (adds color).European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗
The evidence, graded
expert consensusUS rules (21 CFR 74.2304) list FD&C Red No. 4 only for coloring externally applied cosmetics, in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice, and every batch must be certified by the FDA. Under 21 CFR 70.3(v), externally applied cosmetics are those used only on the outside of the body, not on the lips or any surface covered by mucous membrane. The listing doesn’t include products used around the eyes, and under 21 CFR 70.5 a color may be used there only when its listing says so.FDA 2026 · Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 74 (eCFR, current) ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
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