Product Safety Information

How can you tell if a temporary tattoo is safe?

There are several things to look for when you are choosing a temporary tattoo. First of all, you should always make sure that the tattoos are non-toxic. This is especially critical if you are planning to apply the tattoos to your children. A non-toxic temporary tattoo is far less likely to cause any kind of reaction on the child’s skin.

The second thing you want to look out for is the ink used by the company. You need to make sure the dyes are FDA-certified colorants and they comply with CSPC/CPSIA and ASTM requirements. This means that the dyes used in the tattoos will not be harmful to the skin. This is an important attribute because there are colorants on the market that can damage your skin. Temporary tattoos are worn directly on the skin, and if the ingredients are not non-toxic they can make you sick.

The last thing to look for is that the tattoos are made by a reputable company. TemporaryTattoos.com has been the industry leader in temporary tattoos for 27 years. TemporaryTattoos.com, a division of TMI Acquisitions LLC, is the largest manufacturer of temporary tattoos in the world, printing up to 7 million temporary tattoos a day! We, as a company, design and manufacture all of our products in Tucson, AZ. All products exceed US, Canadian and EU safety standards and have a worldwide reputation for quality.

How do I know the difference?

There are a few types of temporary tattoos you should be familiar with:

The most widely used temporary tattoo comes as a water transfer temporary tattoo (water transfer). The tattoo is an image printed on water-permeable paper. The paper is placed ink-side down and applying moisture transfers the image to the skin. The FDA requires that water transfer-type tattoos use only pigments that have been approved for use in cosmetics; this means they are non-toxic. They are easily removed by baby oil or rubbing alcohol (but not soap and water). Many water transfer-type tattoos that are manufactured in China or Taiwan do not meet these standards. Do not buy water transfer-type temporary tattoos that give no indication of the ingredients used to manufacture them. You also want to steer clear of temporary tattoos that are digitally printed on temporary tattoo transfer paper. Digital inks are not safe to be worn on the skin and can cause irritation.

Airbrush temporary tattoos are also increasingly popular, however they do not always look as good or last as long as water transfer temporary tattoos. The method of application is having the tattoo design sprayed on by an artist using a stencil with alcohol-based, FDA approved cosmetic inks. If you are thinking about this kind of tattoo be sure to ask the tattoo artist what kind of ink is used before proceeding. Airbrush temporary tattoos are also easily removed with rubbing alcohol or baby oil.

Many temporary tattoos received at theme parks or on beaches are henna-based tattoos. Henna is a plant-derived substance which is painted on the skin, staining it a reddish-orange-to-brown color. Henna typically lasts a couple weeks if it is applied correctly, but it does not resemble a real tattoo and, due to the process of application and length of drying time, is typically not a good option for children. If you do choose henna temporary tattoos ensure it is pure henna. Brown, plant-derived henna, tends to cause no allergic reaction and is generally safe for use on all skin types. ***WARNING: Serious problems can occur from the use of henna with certain additives. The FDA reports that “black henna” hand-painted temporary tattoos are especially dangerous, so be sure to ask what is being used. (Note: This does not apply to water transfer-style temporary tattoos with a henna design.) Water transfer henna temporary tattoos are completely safe!

What makes TemporaryTattoos.com’s tattoos the best?

All of the tattoos we manufacture are made in the United States with ingredients that have been approved by the FDA. While the FDA does not specifically certify temporary tattoos, it does certify the safety of the ingredients used to make them. All of our ingredients exceed these safety standards, which is vital to our customers and a requirement to export to many of the countries to which we ship our products. We also make sure that each temporary tattoo clearly states the ingredients on the back. Here at TemporaryTattoos.com, we make only decal (press-on) temporary tattoos because we believe that this is the best temporary tattoo option for children and adults, safely delivering a high-quality, realistic effect. The key is asking the right questions and knowing what to look for; this will ensure that you always have a safe and effective product for your family to use. If you ever have any questions about temporary tattoo safety, do not hesitate to call us here at TemporaryTattoos.com so we can put your mind at ease.

Testing and Compliance

We take pride in our products. Please note that all products manufactured by TemporaryTattoos.com are tested annually to ensure that they meet or exceed the following regulations and requirements.

New FDA Compliance Regulations Coming in 2024

The Food and Drug Administration has announced that key provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FDCA) will take effect in 2024. Referred to as the Modernization of Cosmetic Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), these provisions are the most significant expansion of the FDCA since 1938. As a skin-contact product, our temporary tattoos are classified as a cosmetic product under the jurisdiction of this act. The activation of these provisions are underway, and California Tattoos is now an officially registered FDA Cosmetic Facility (#3010547620). We continue to work closely with the FDA to ensure our full compliance when MoCRA takes full effect at year’s end.

USA

21 CFR (73, 74, 81, 82, 700 to 740): Cosmetic Label Review

16 CFR 1500: Mechanical and Physical Testing, Toxicological Risk Assessment (TRA)

16 CFR 1303: Lead in Surface Coating

Cal Prop 65: Lead, Arsenic, Mercury, Cadmium, phthalates (CPSIA)

21 CFR 700.13: Mercury in Cosmetics

Soluble Heavy Metals: CPSIA 2008: Consumer Product Safety, Section 106 (ASTM F963-11-4.3.5.1(2))

Soluble Heavy Metals: CPSIA 2008: Consumer Product Safety, Section 106 (ASTM F963-11-4.3.5.1(2))

Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr in Packaging: Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (NERC)

16 CFR 1500.14(a, b) (8): LHAMA Review (ASTM D-4236)

USP <51>, <61>, <62>: Microbial analysis

Europe

2009/48/EC: Toxicological Risk Assessment (TRA)

1223/2009/EC: Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) A & B

94/62/EC: Packaging and Packaging Waste

EN 71-1:2011: Mechanical and Physical Testing

EN 71-2: Flammability

EN 71-3: Migration of Certain (Heavy) Metals

EN 71-9 Series: Primary Aromatic Amines, Colorants, Solvent migrations, Preservatives

EC 1907/2006 REACH, Annex XVII, Item 51 & 52 – Phthalates

EC 1907/2006 REACH, Article 59(10): Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)

USP <51>, <61>, <62>: Microbial analysis

Canada

SOR/2011-17, SC 2010, c21: Toxicological Risk Assessment (TRA)

C.R.C.c. 869: Cosmetic Labeling Review

R.S.Q., c. C-11: Charter of the French Language

SOR/2011-17: Mechanical and Physical Testing

SOR/2005: Surface Coating Materials – Lead

SOR/2010-298: Phthalates Regulation

SOR/2010-298 (Heavy Metal Impurities): ASTM F963

USP <51>, <61>, <62>: Microbial analysis

In addition to the extensive testing conducted on our products, we conduct 3rd party audits annually to ensure and demonstrate our company’s commitment to both cGMP & Social Compliance standards.

Code of Conduct

Safety and Health in the Workplace – The safety and health of employees is a priority. We make every effort to comply with all federal and state workplace safety requirements. TM International’s workplace safety rules and regulations. Each employee is expected to obey safety rules and exercise caution and common sense in all work activities.

Our company believes that in order to maintain a safe and healthful workplace, the employees must be cognizant and aware of all company, State, and Federal safety and health regulations as they apply to the specific job duties required.
No Forced Labor – We do not hire forced labor or prisoners nor do we engage or sub-contract with companies that hire into the prison system.

No Child Labor – Our policy does not allow for children under the age of 15 to work directly or indirectly for our company. In an effort to help our local community, we participate in a work program with Goodwill to help disadvantaged youth that have passed the “Goodwill Training Program” by providing on the job training. The youth are then placed in positions according to the need, interest, and skill.

No Discrimination – TM International will not discriminate against any qualified employee or job applicant with respect to any terms, privileges, or conditions of employment because of a person’s physical or mental disability, race, gender, religion, nationality, marital status, political opinion, ethnic background, or any other status protected by law.


Work Hours – Employees at TM International are classified as either “exempt” or “non-exempt.” This is necessary because, by law, employees in certain types of jobs are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked in excess of forty (40) hours per workweek. In addition to the above overtime classifications, every employee is assigned an employment status classification: regular full-time, regular part-time, temporary (full-time or part-time), regular hourly, etc. Full Time is an employee who is regularly scheduled to work 35+ hours per week. Part Time is an employee whose position has no termination date and who is scheduled to work 20 or more hours, but less than 35 hours per week.


Fair Wages / Overtime Compensation / Benefits – Overtime compensation is paid to non-exempt employees in accordance with federal and state wage and hour restrictions. All overtime work performed must receive the supervisor’s prior authorization. TM International sponsors a comprehensive benefits program for eligible employees. All full-time employees will enjoy all of the benefits after they meet all of the eligibility requirements.


Environment – We are truly concerned with our environment and continuously look for ways to limit the footprint that is created by our factory or by our products.