As part of our ongoing improvements to TKB Trading, we are updating our sampling policy for bulk lip gloss bases.

Effective immediately, complimentary 5.5 oz samples will no longer be included with purchases of 12 lb or 30 lb lip gloss base sizes.

Why This Change?

To keep our pricing fair and transparent for all creators, and to continue focusing on product quality and operational efficiency, we have standardized our sampling process.

 How to Sample Products

If you would like to test a lip gloss base before committing to a larger size, all samples are now available for purchase directly on each product page.

We offer multiple small-size options — including 2 oz, 5.5 oz, and 1 lb — so you can choose what fits your creative process.

 Thank You for Supporting TKB

These updates help us continue improving the TKB experience while offering high-quality, consistent, and reliable products for makers and brands of all sizes.

If you have any questions, our Customer Support team is here to help.

What is ten-free?

Many nail polishes found in stores may contain toxins. There is a list of 10 ingredients that are considered "toxic" that may be included in nail polishes and bases. The 10 Free Nail Polishes avoids those ingredients.

10-Free polish does NOT contain:

1. Formaldehyde
2. Toluene
3. DBP
4. Camphor
5. Formaldehyde Resin
6. Xylene
7. Ethyl Tosylamide
8. Parabens
9. Phthalates
10. Fragances

There are a few alternatives to a 10-free nail polish. See this list for reference:

3-Free polish does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.

5-Free polish does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or camphor.

7-Free polish does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, parabens or xylene.

Sources: 

https://www.floraandfauna.com.au/blog/what-does-10-free-actually-mean/  (03/12/2019)

https://www.100percentpure.com/blogs/feed/what-is-10-free-nail-polish  (03/12/2019)

The California Prop 65 Warning may seem daunting, but we have great resources for our customers to fully understand what it means, especially how for their businesses.

 These warnings are required by law for sales to customers located in California.

For other insights into the proposition, here is a blog post that we found to be balanced and clear: http://shiftbeauty.com/proposition-65/

Q. Why isn't every company issuing this warning?

A. TKB Trading, LLC is located in California and must comply with the law most especially for its California customers.  Companies located outside of California do not always comply.  While a competitor may not have the warning on their site, this doesn't mean that they would not also be required to have it for any sales to California.  

Q. Do I or my company have to put this warning on my products?

A. Please read the details at the website cited below.  However, the answer is "NO" if you are not selling to a California customer and/or your company has less than 10 employees. 

Q. Why is the warning on so many powders?

A. Titanium Dioxide was recently added to the Prop 65 List and it is in an ingredient in many loose powder pigments.  If you are purchasing a powder which has Titanium Dioxide as an ingredient (whether from TKB or elsewhere) it should probably be required to have this warning.  

Q. What is up with the Lead and Arsenic warning?

A. The FDA (the US Governmental agency that regulates cosmetic color additives) sets a standard of what percentage of heavy metals are accepted in the products.  As you can imagine, a mineral is going to have some heavy metals in it.  All our our cosmetic grade pigments meet or exceed the low levels required by the FDA, however as there is not "none" but potentially some, we are required by California Prop 65 to include a warning.  

Q. What is Proposition 65?

A. Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was an initiative California voters approved. The purpose was to address growing concern about exposure to toxic chemicals.

Q.What are the requirements under Proposition 65?

A. The state of California is required to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. The list now has more than 900 chemicals and is required to be updated at least once a year. All businesses that sell items in or into the State of California are required to provide a clear and reasonable warning prior to purchase on items that contain a listed chemical.

Q.My product contained a Proposition 65 warning. What does this mean?

A.By law, in the State of California, a Proposition 65 warning informs a consumer that he or she is being exposed to substances known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm in amounts that exceed certain threshold levels. This is not the same as a regulatory decision that a product is "safe" or "unsafe." Warnings are required for a wide variety of products including baked or fried foods, alcohol, and fish.

Q.Where can I get more information?

A.If you would like more information regarding Proposition 65 please visit: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-faqs.

Quicklinks to the mentioned resources outside of TKB Trading: 

Shiftbeauty 

CA GOVERNMENTThe California Prop 65 Warning may seem daunting, but we have great resources for our customers to fully understand what it means, especially how for their businesses.

 These warnings are required by law for sales to customers located in California.

For other insights into the proposition, here is a blog post that we found to be balanced and clear: http://shiftbeauty.com/proposition-65/

Q. Why isn't every company issuing this warning?

A. TKB Trading, LLC is located in California and must comply with the law most especially for its California customers.  Companies located outside of California do not always comply.  While a competitor may not have the warning on their site, this doesn't mean that they would not also be required to have it for any sales to California.  

Q. Do I or my company have to put this warning on my products?

A. Please read the details at the website cited below.  However, the answer is "NO" if you are not selling to a California customer and/or your company has less than 10 employees. 

Q. Why is the warning on so many powders?

A. Titanium Dioxide was recently added to the Prop 65 List and it is in an ingredient in many loose powder pigments.  If you are purchasing a powder which has Titanium Dioxide as an ingredient (whether from TKB or elsewhere) it should probably be required to have this warning.  

Q. What is up with the Lead and Arsenic warning?

A. The FDA (the US Governmental agency that regulates cosmetic color additives) sets a standard of what percentage of heavy metals are accepted in the products.  As you can imagine, a mineral is going to have some heavy metals in it.  All our our cosmetic grade pigments meet or exceed the low levels required by the FDA, however as there is not "none" but potentially some, we are required by California Prop 65 to include a warning.  

Q. What is Proposition 65?

A. Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was an initiative California voters approved. The purpose was to address growing concern about exposure to toxic chemicals.

Q.What are the requirements under Proposition 65?

A. The state of California is required to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. The list now has more than 900 chemicals and is required to be updated at least once a year. All businesses that sell items in or into the State of California are required to provide a clear and reasonable warning prior to purchase on items that contain a listed chemical.

Q.My product contained a Proposition 65 warning. What does this mean?

A.By law, in the State of California, a Proposition 65 warning informs a consumer that he or she is being exposed to substances known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm in amounts that exceed certain threshold levels. This is not the same as a regulatory decision that a product is "safe" or "unsafe." Warnings are required for a wide variety of products including baked or fried foods, alcohol, and fish.

Q.Where can I get more information?

A.If you would like more information regarding Proposition 65 please visit: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-faqs.

Quicklinks to the mentioned resources outside of TKB Trading: 

Shiftbeauty 

CA GOVERNMENT

We confirm that all micas listed on our website are ethically sourced without any form of child labor or exploitation.

 Our process of confirmation included contacting each of our vendors and manufacturers to verify an ethical supply chain.  

 TKB stands for “Truth”, “Knowledge”, and “Beauty”. These values are what we’re built on and we demonstrate them through our community practices. We align ourselves with vendors who share our passion for truth, knowledge, and beauty in order to support ethical practices of cosmetic and personal care ingredient sourcing. 

-TKB Trading, LLC

For a downloadable copy, please click HERE.

2019 STATEMENT REGARDING the (non) Use of Animal-Derived Ingredients in our Products

We hereby confirm that the color additives we sell have not been the subject of animal testing for cosmetic purposes by or on behalf of this company since 12/31/1990.  We regularly contact our suppliers and ask for updated Animal Non-Testing Declarations in order to keep this statement current.

Certified organic (FD&C and D&C) dyes and pigments, non-certified organics and inorganic mineral colorants are made by chemical syntheses and are not manufactured with or derived from animal derived ingredients (except in the case of any product which contains Carmine, which is animal derived).

Fillers, such as talc, mica, kaolin, etc., are derived solely from mineral ores, likewise without the use of animal ingredients.

Some of our ingredients are animal derived and we attempt to make that clear on our website.  Examples include beeswax, lanolin, silk powder and pearl powder and any color additive containing carmine.  However, animal testing is not conducted on these materials.

As the ingredients have been safely sold for over 50 years in the coloring of foods, drugs and cosmetics, additional testing on animals or otherwise is not required.  

TKB Trading, LLC has not commissioned or performed any animal testing to evaluate product safety on any of these colorant products, ever.

- TKB Trading, LLC

Why does my product look or feel slightly different?

At TKB, we understand how important consistency is to your creative projects. Occasionally, you may notice that a product looks or feels a little different from a previous batch — for example, a slight change in color, odor, or thickness.

• Normal Batch Variations
- Small differences in odor, color, or texture can occur from batch to batch.
- These variations are normal in cosmetic raw materials and do not affect quality, safety, or performance.

• Freshness & Quality Control
- We recycle raw materials like Versagel regularly to keep inventory fresh. Turnover is as often as once a month.
- Every batch is reviewed against its Certificate of Analysis (CoA) before release.

• Reporting Concerns
- If you believe there’s an issue, please contact us with your order number and
batch/lot number (printed on the label).
- Our support team will review your concern, check the batch records, and provide guidance.

• Returns & Refunds
- Concerns must be reported within 14 days of receipt for replacement or refund eligibility.
- Outside of that window, we’re happy to provide documentation (like a CoA) for
reassurance, but replacements are not issued unless there is a proven defect.

• Our Commitment
Every product you receive from TKB is authentic, tested, and supported by our
quality standards. While natural variations may happen, you can create with confidence knowing your ingredients are safe and reliable.