Is there nickel in cosmetics?

Nickel appears in cosmetics as a trace contaminant of some mineral pigments.

The most common contact allergen overall. Rare in cosmetics as an intentional ingredient, but it appears as a trace contaminant in some mineral pigments.

Ingredients in this family (3)

This list is not complete. This family covers more materials than can be listed — an ingredient not shown here is not evidence that a product is safe for you.

CI 77775
NICKEL
NICKEL SULFATE

Commonly co-reacts with

Documented co-reactivity. Not everyone sensitised to one reacts to the others, but they are worth discussing with your clinician.

cobalt

Evidence

Source:: European baseline series; Ahlström MG et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2019;81(4):227-41
Member list is:: partial — this family cannot be fully enumerated
What this does not establish:: Whether you personally react. Contact allergy is confirmed by patch testing, not by an ingredient list.
Last reviewed:: 2026-09-26

Information, not medical advice. A suspected contact allergy should be confirmed by a dermatologist through patch testing.