Coal Tar

Coal Tar is a cosmetic ingredient used as an anti-seborrheic, antimicrobial agent. It is used in 3 products in our dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 721 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameCOAL TAR
FunctionANTI-SEBORRHEIC, ANTIMICROBIAL, DENATURANT
CAS number8007-45-2
EC number232-361-7
Prevalence3 products (0% of dataset)
Most used inHaircare
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies721 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches4,400

Used in

Shampoos 100%

Frequently asked

What does Coal Tar do in skincare?
Coal Tar functions as an anti-seborrheic, antimicrobial agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Coal Tar allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Coal Tar?
It is most commonly found in Haircare products, especially shampoos (100% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Coal Tar

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.