Product Safety Information

Spiritoos Temporary Tattoos are Safe!

We take pride in our products. Our products are of the highest quality and comply with all U.S. requirements and standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Society for Safety and Testing Materials (ASTM).  Products also exceed all Canadian & European standards for cosmetic products. In addition to the extensive testing conducted on our products, we are cGMP & RCP (Social) certified. Documentation is available upon request.

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 less likely to cause any kind of reaction on the child’s skin.

The second thing you want to look for is the ink used by the company. You need to make sure the dyes are FDA-certified colorants and they comply with regional safety 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 the skin. 

The last thing to look for is that the tattoos are manufactured by a reputable company. Spiritoos uses the largest and most reputable manufacturer in all of North America: California Tattoos.  They have been the industry leader in temporary tattoos for over 27 years. California Tattoos, 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!  They manufacture all of our products in Tucson, AZ, USA.  All their 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 decal 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 decal-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. Some decal-type tattoos that are manufactured in China or Taiwan do not meet these standards. Do not buy decal-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. Computer 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 decal 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 for 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 decal-style temporary tattoos with a henna design). Water transfer henna temporary tattoos are completely safe!

What makes Spiritoos Temporary 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 temporary tattoo ingredients meet or exceed these safety standards, which is vital to our customers as well as a requirement to export to many of the countries to which we ship our products. Here at Spiritoos Temporary Tattoos, 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 contact us here at Spiritoos so we can put your mind at ease.


Testing and Compliance

USA Canada
  • 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))
  • 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
  • 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