Coal Tar
AKA: Liquid Coal Tar, Crude Coal Tar
Plant-Derived Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
Coal Tar is a thick liquid or semi-solid obtained as a by-product in the destructive distillation of bituminous coal
CAS #
8007-45-2
Form
Liquid
Functions
Anti-Seborrheic
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Denaturant
Controls excess oil
Fights acne
Causing bacteria
Traditional Use
Coal tar was developed as a byproduct of coal gas production in the 19th century and was adopted by the medical and cosmetic industries in the early 1900s as a treatment for psoriasis, eczema, and other inflammatory skin conditions. It remains a pharmaceutical ingredient in dermatology, though its use has declined with modern synthetic alternatives.
EWG
4
CIR
Reviewed by CIR
Pregnancy
Caution
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Eczema
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory0 listings
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR