What it is
In the register’s words: “Caramel is the concentrated solution obtained from heating sucrose or glucose solutions.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- CARAMEL
- CAS number
- 8028-89-5
- EC number
- 232-435-9
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Caramel in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Colorant
-
Colors the product itself, or the hair or skin. EU law allows only the colorants on its own list.
Register definition: “Exclusively or mainly intended to colour the cosmetic product, the body as a whole or certain parts thereof, by absorption or reflection of visible light; (precursors of oxidative hair colorants shall be deemed colorants). All authorised colorants are substances in the positive list of Annex IV to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.”
- Fragrance
-
Gives the product its smell or covers an unpleasant one. A label may name each scent ingredient or group them as Fragrance (Parfum).
Register definition: “Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it. Colors are a further exception: the FDA lets a color additive at any concentration be listed in any order after the other ingredients, so where Caramel sits says nothing about how much is in it.
- Shampoos 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Shampoos without it
- Rinse-out conditioners 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Deep conditioners without it
- Stylers 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Stylers without it
- Protein treatments 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Protein treatments without it
Every label, product by product (8)
- SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo Shampoo 23rd of 27 names
- Cécred Hydrating Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 44th of 50 names
- SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 26th of 29 names
- Cécred Moisturizing Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 28th of 41 names
- Cantu Ultra Moisture Nourishing Mask Deep conditioner 20th of 26 names
- SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque Deep conditioner 31st of 35 names
- Cécred Moisture Sealing Lotion Styler 33rd of 48 names
- Cécred Reconstructing Treatment Mask Protein treatment 29th of 37 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other colorant ingredients on these labels
- CI 15985 (Yellow 6) 3 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.