What do the stripes on creams mean. What do the stripes on toothpaste tubes mean? Why are colored stripes applied?

What does the color of the label on the toothpaste, which are often located on the tube soldering, mean? Consumers constantly ask this question, believing that in this way it is possible to reveal the secret of the composition.

Thanks to wild fantasy, today there are several theories that are successfully applied in practice - when buying. What do these stripes really mean?

Myths and exposure

There are several theories about the meaning of the color of the stripe on a tube of toothpaste, most of which are “invented” by consumers themselves.

Popular opinion

The most popular theory is the connection of the colored strip with its chemical composition. It fully reveals the meaning of color in accordance with the chemical composition used in the form:

  1. Black the strip indicates the presence of only chemical elements in the composition. There is no need to talk about the use of natural herbal ingredients.
  2. Blue the strip indicates the content of 20% natural ingredients in the entire composition. The rest are harmful chemicals.
  3. Red the color indicates the content of natural substances in the composition of the cleaning product, but only in half of the total amount.
  4. Green the strip is the safest paste containing only natural ingredients.

Application duration

There is also a theory where the stripes on the tubes of toothpaste indicate the possibility of the duration of use of the product.

There are 4 statements here:

  • blue a strip on toothpaste means that it can be used daily;
  • red- the composition includes substances that provide a therapeutic effect, but it can be used no longer than 7 days;
  • green the strip speaks of its strengthening effect, the period of use is no more than 30 days;
  • black color means whitening property, which negatively affects tooth enamel.

The presence of dyes

There is a hypothesis about the presence of dyes in the product:

  • according to this theory in paste with green marking there are no synthetic dyes, and it consists only of natural components;
  • tubes with black, brown and blue strips contain many harmful chemical dyes that give color to the product.
  • there are suggestions that marketers specifically apply green strips on tubes of paste so that they sell better - everyone knows that green color means the color of nature and benefit to man.

Protection against periodontal disease

The theory that cautions development says:

  • black mark - the composition that provokes the development of periodontal disease;
  • red mark - there are synthetic elements permitted by GOST;
  • green mark - environmentally friendly composition, the most useful for teeth.

The content of abrasive components

There is a hypothesis about the presence of abrasive components and the frequency of its use, according to the labels on the tubes. We are talking about the presence in the paste of small particles that whiten and polish the teeth, but eventually spoil the enamel.

According to this theory, products with a high content of abrasive particles are marked with stripes of dark colors: black, brown, blue. Such compositions can be used no longer than 7 days.

A red stripe means that the paste contains few abrasive particles and can be used to brush your teeth 3 times a week. But the composition with a green label can be used every day without harm to health.

Race of consumers

There is a somewhat strange theory of the presence of petroleum products in toothpaste, which drastically affects the territorial purpose. Here is an example:

  • tubes with black stripes are intended for Asia and the third world;
  • With red and green strips make pasta for European residents;
  • The US can use pasta with blue mark.
  • black color indicates a high content of refined products;
  • blue color - contains less oil products;
  • red color - there are very few components under consideration;
  • green color is an environmentally friendly product.

financial conspiracy

There is a theory about the financial situation of buyers who purchase for daily consumption.

According to this hypothesis:

  • black the strip is applied to tubes with cheap toothpaste, which includes inexpensive components;
  • blue label - the product is of better quality;
  • red strip is an elite product containing components that are gentle on tooth enamel.

The theory is silent about other color applications.

There is a lot of speculation about these labels on toothpaste tubes, but what do they really mean?

The truth will debunk the myth of colored stripes and disappoint many dreamers.

What do the labels really mean?

You should not trust the given conjectures, because the composition is written on the package and it is enough to read it, and not to come up with special properties of the colored strip on the tube.

Although the font chosen for printing will not be able to be read by most consumers, therefore, it is necessary to take a magnifying glass and a table of harmful components, with the help of which the entire composition of the product is deciphered.

Colored stripes do not contain any secret messages, no matter how much some dreamers would like. Colored rectangles on tubes - it's just a "markup" or "light marker", which the conveyor needs to properly cut the tube blank.

The conveyor sensor reads the applied mark on the moving tube blank belt and cuts it there. Then, the cut piece of foil is twisted, glued, the tube is filled with paste, while the lid with the cap is at the bottom. Finally, the edge of the tube is wrapped or soldered.

Why are the label colors different?

Why the colors of the strips are different depends on the design of the tube. In order for the conveyor sensor to be able to read the mark, there must be maximum contrast between the background and the light mark.

When black is used in the design of the tube, both the label and the barcode will be black, if it is not in the design, then another, maximum contrasting color is assigned relative to the background.

If the background of the tube is light, the dark label color (black, blue, brown) will be used. In the case when the background of the tube is dark, the label will be white.

Usually in the design of tubes 4 primary colors are used, which do not always fulfill the initial ideas. Then color schemes supplemented by prepress.

To prevent colors from overlapping, a fifth color is assigned, which is used to print the barcode, the font on the package and the light mark on the tube.

It is easier for sensors to capture one color, and this helps the manufacturer to optimize costs. Sometimes the function of photo labels is performed by design elements, then there will be no colored strip on the tube.

So the secret of labeling toothpaste is revealed. It turns out that they do not carry any information about the composition of the toothpaste. In any case, you should not trust such elements when choosing a product. It is important to familiarize yourself with the composition on the packaging or on the manufacturer's website before purchasing the product.

Do you know what the multi-colored stripes on tubes of creams, toothpastes, shampoos and other things mean? Have you ever noticed that on each tube, for example, with cream, with reverse side must be a rectangle. It happens: black, dark brown, dark blue, dark burgundy (generally dark colors); It also comes in red, blue and green.

  • dark rectangle means that the product you are using consists entirely of chemicals, contains a coarse abrasive and many synthetic components. 100% chemistry!
  • blue rectangle contains more mineral components than black and contains: 80% chemicals - 20% natural substances.
  • red rectangle means that the product is about 50% consists of chemistry and 50% from natural raw materials.
  • green rectangle means that the product you used is without chemicals! Consists 100% from natural substances.

Here is another opinion:

  • Black - contains substances that increase periodontal disease;
  • Red - contains substances hazardous to health;
  • Blue - contains acceptable synthetic substances that are not hazardous to health;
  • Green - contains 100% natural raw materials, environmentally friendly substances." "Stripes mean the percentage of chemistry in the toothpaste.
  • Black - 100% chemistry
  • Blue - 80% chemistry 20% natural product
  • Red - 50% chemistry 50% natural product
  • Green - 100% natural product"source"There is a strip on the bottom of the tube of toothpaste. These stripes come in three colors: Black, blue and green.
  • A tube with a black stripe, contains shaping in the paste. It whitens well, but you can’t use such a paste often. Since forming will scratch the teeth. This paste can be used no more than once a week.
  • A tube with a blue stripe - the paste contains an image but much less. This paste is recommended to brush your teeth no more than 2 - 3 times a week.
  • And a tube with a green stripe is more like a phyto paste, you need to brush your teeth like this every day in the morning and yesterday. ” source “if there is a black stripe on the tail of the tube, the paste is terribly poisonous and generally“ entirely from oil ”; blue, red - also nothing good, but green - purely herbs and natural substances.
  • I don’t even know how to comment on this, so I’ll just end with a quote from Balzac: “Ignorance is the mother of all crimes.”

Or such an option - colored stripes can determine the class of the paste, from black - "economy class" to green "elite class".

There is also such an opinion - blue stripe- paste for daily use, redmedical paste(applied no more than a week), with green stripe- firming paste (used for a month after treatment), with black stripe whitening paste (use no more than once a week).

What do you think about this?

Update from 2019:

The color of the strip is related to the composition of the product.

Remember the version that stripes of different colors show the degree of naturalness of the product. If the stripes are dark, the product consists only of synthetic components. Reds are less dangerous - only 70% of "chemistry". Green - can you guess? That's right, completely natural. Well, who among you thinks so?


In fact there is no connection between the contents of the tube and the color/shape of the strip. This is a myth that has been supported by many media outlets for several years now. For example, Elena Malysheva, who has already spoiled her reputation with dubious statements, in one of the episodes of the Health program, with a smart look, speaks outright nonsense about stripes on tubes, supporting this myth. Apparently, the person who wrote the release script decided not to bother and included the first thing that came across on the Internet. Or - and this I believe more - there are manufacturers who benefit from spreading such rumors in order to increase sales.

Stripes on tubes - technical element

The strip on the tube is a marking that allows the sensor on the conveyor to determine where the tube should be cut. The color of the strip depends on the color of the tube: if it is dark, the strip will be light, and vice versa. The machine reads the maximum contrast color better.

I understand that it’s easier for a person to trust a colored strip than to look for a composition and try to delve into it, but we don’t want to be a thoughtless herd, right? So, when you hear such nonsense, turn on your head and critically evaluate the information.

Can talk about the naturalness of the remedy only its composition- read it, do not be lazy.

And now seriously

Initially, the design of the future tube is being developed. For most "designers" there are only 4 colors - CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black). But not all the ideas of the "designers" can be reproduced when printing in full color, so the design goes to the prepress department for further processing, where problematic design elements are processed: unnecessary colors are removed, replaced with spot colors, color separation is performed in accordance with the number of ink sections of the printing press and etc. technological moments.

For example, a design contains an image and text (everything is done in full color - cmyk). Designer assigned text and barcode Blue colour(cyan+magenta), because it was suggested to him by higher powers from outer space, or this color simply harmonizes with the general idea of ​​​​design, or is it the brand color of the company, etc. colors, the text will not be readable, and the barcode will not be readable, therefore, at the prepress stage, a spot color is assigned to this text by choosing a color from the Pantone catalog (the design will already be made in 5 colors - cmyk + pantone), so the photo label will be blue, but not not red or green, since the additional color is an additional cost that the manufacturer will not go to, trying to keep costs to a minimum.

Now about technological photo labels. Photo tags are necessary, as already mentioned above:

  • horizontal - for precise cutting of the laminate web in height (when printing on a rolled laminate web)
  • vertical - for precise positioning of the tip of the tube during soldering (so that the soldering is parallel to the image and the text part, and not at an angle or perpendicular)

As a rule, the label is printed in one color, like a barcode.

In order for the photo sensor to catch the photo mark, the contrast between the background and the mark is necessary. The maximum contrast is a white material and a black photo label. If the design contains black paint- then both the photo label and the barcode will be black, if there is no black ink in the design, then the color that is most contrasting relative to the background is assigned. If the background is black/dark, then a white phototag is used. There are cases when there are no photo tags at all, and design elements play their role. Many manufacturers take risks by assigning a light color to the phototag and barcode, since the barcode may simply not be considered by the scanner in the store, and the photo sensor may not catch the mark when sealing the tip of the tube.

To select the color of labels and barcodes, preliminary tests are carried out, but most often manufacturers do not risk releasing a low-quality product and use black / dark color.

On the seam of the container of cosmetic and hygiene products, you can see strange-looking marks in the form of squares or rectangles. The packaging itself does not explain what the stripes on toothpaste tubes mean. But if these freaky geometric figures there is, so someone needs them. It remains only to find out to whom and why.

Squares on tubes: what do they mean?

Regarding the markings on cosmetic products on the World Wide Web, there is a lot myths. The most common of them gives the following decoding to the rectangles on the package:

  • Black or others dark shades- the product is replete with substances harmful to health. The use of such "chemistry" every day can create a danger to human health;
  • Blue the color of the square indicates a slight decrease in the concentration of synthetic components relative to the previous category. The share of natural "ingredients" reaches 1/5;
  • Red the square serves as a signal that the proportion of natural substances is exactly half per 100 grams of the substance;
  • Green the color of the brand indicates that the product can be safely attributed to the “Organic” category. The composition includes only natural raw materials, which have only a beneficial effect on health.

Alternative theory

The above point of view is copied from site to site and enthusiastically picked up by the narrow-minded public. But this is not the only misconception that concerns the design of tubes.

So, the flowers on toothpaste are sometimes attributed to such mythological significance:

  • Black: composition for whitening tooth enamel. It is recommended to use no more than once a week;
  • Blue: the mass is suitable for everyday use;
  • Red: there is a healing effect. Such products are sold in pharmacies and prescribed by dentists in case of painful teeth;
  • Green: designed to consolidate the result of recovery achieved by the previous composition. Recommended for use within 4 weeks after the treatment course.

Other decryption options are also possible. The gradation of colors is often interpreted as a distribution by price categories of goods, where the green marker is an indicator of an elite and expensive “eco-product”.

Features of container production

Before answering a question about true value squares on the container, you need to give a certificate about the features of their production.

Creating regular tubes looks like this:

  1. The polymer blank is cut into pieces of a certain length and width;
  2. The logo, barcode, manufacturer's data and other information are applied to the tube;
  3. Folding a segment that takes the form of a cylinder;
  4. Sealing the edges of the sample (on one side);
  5. Filling the container with cream (or other substance);
  6. Blockage and sealing of the cylinder;
  7. The date of manufacture and expiration date are printed on the seam. Also marked " light mark" , thanks to which the machine recognizes the exact location where you need to make an incision.

The specified sequence of actions is applicable to the process of manufacturing plastic products. The mechanism for creating aluminum tubes is somewhat different, but the placement of a color marker also takes place.

What do the stripes on cream tubes mean?

We found out that there is nothing supernatural behind the mysterious rectangles on the containers of cosmetic and hygienic masses:

  • The light marker can be any color. The main requirement for it is readability for the machine. Therefore, you need to paint the rectangle so that it is as recognizable as possible for the car and contrasts sharply against the background of the overall design of the product;
  • Horizontal figures indicate the notch line, vertical ones are used as a sealing point marker;
  • Sometimes light marks may be completely absent on the container: instead of them, figures disguised as design elements are used;
  • There is no international regulation regarding seam markers. The ISO 11609-95 standard, which describes the technology for the production of dentifrices, does not contain data on light markers.

However, factories cannot but pay attention to rumors about the sacred meaning of marks. Therefore, some manufacturers go to the trick and mark their entire range with green squares so that the product receives the status of "environmentally friendly".

Quality assessment criteria

So, drop-jet marking does not make any sense about the harm or usefulness of the product. Therefore, the composition remains the only source for analyzing the quality of a product.

High quality toothpaste should not contain such substances:

  • Sodium dodecyl sulfate- It is used to form foam. It is cheap, so it can be found in products of a low price segment. It has a negative effect on the skin of the oral cavity, is one of the causes of early baldness, and can reduce visual acuity. It tends to accumulate in the body, so the daily use of such substances is not recommended;
  • Triclosan- designed to destroy and suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Along the way, it destroys a number of microorganisms necessary for health;
  • Fluorine- helps in the prevention of caries and other dental ailments, but is quite toxic. If large amounts of fluoride or fluorides are accidentally swallowed, poisoning may occur;
  • Index of controlled abrasiveness should be within 100 for healthy teeth.

On the Internet, you can find a variety of explanations of what the stripes on toothpaste tubes mean. Allegedly, they indicate the degree of environmental friendliness or the price category of the product. But really their purpose is exclusively applied and makes sense only for an automaton on a conveyor.

Video: ciphers on tubes

In this video, Igor Mulatov will tell you how manufacturers label tubes of toothpaste, which means green and blue squares on the package:

What does natural toothpaste consist of, which is safe for our health? Is there such a product at all, or does absolutely all cleaning products contain harmful components? Indeed, most pastes contain chemical compounds that, with prolonged contact with the body, can cause irreparable pathological changes. You can choose relatively safe products. It remains only to learn to distinguish them.

Labeling on packages of toothpaste and cream

To begin with, it is worth debunking one popular myth about toothpaste labeling. Below, at the very end of the tube, there are small multi-colored marks: red squares, green, blue, black stripes. What do these icons mean? Long time in in social networks there was a false information that the color marking in the form of a square or a strip on tubes, as well as on other cosmetics, creams in tubes, helps to determine the quality.

The myth says that:

  • a green label indicates that the product is natural and safe;
  • the red strip allegedly means that the paste contains components of both chemical and natural origin;
  • color coded black or blue - this product is a complete chemistry and hazardous to health.

The color of the marking does not mean quality and safety. cosmetic product. The notorious stripes have a different meaning and are designed for completely different purposes.

What does the color of stripes and squares mean?

Designation of tubes with photo labels is necessary to control the packaging design during printing. What colors are incorporated in the design, this will be the marking. This information is not needed by the consumer, but exclusively by the printer and the people who produce the packaging. For the end user, there are other criteria to consider. First of all, when buying a product, you need to look at the composition.

How to choose a natural product?

When choosing pasta for your family, be very careful and demanding. The fact is that with each use of a cleaning agent, its components enter the oral mucosa, respectively, are sent to the bloodstream, so the quality of the paste and the safety of its ingredients greatly affect health.

To choose the right toothpaste that is safer, we will comparative analysis several famous products trademarks such as: Blendamed, Sensodyne, Aquafresh, etc. We will compare the pastes without analyzing them in detail for all components, but paying attention only to the presence of only three components in them: parabens, SLS and propylene glycol.


All three substances are contained in SPLAT paste and Forest Balsam. ROCS and Sensodyne contain parabens, Aquafresh has an SLS component, President and LACALUT sin with propylene glycol and SLS, but none of these substances is present in Siberian Health paste. Therefore, Siberian health is the safest and most natural.

List of hazardous components

The presence of these ingredients in the composition indicates a risk to your health:

  • parabens (ethylparaben, methylparaben, butylparaben) - substances that tend to accumulate in the body and cause cancer;
  • SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) - can irritate the oral mucosa, promote bleeding gums and hypersensitivity of the teeth;
  • propylene glycol - can cause irreparable harm to the liver and kidneys, causes oncology.

Although these substances are scant in today's toothpastes, is it worth the risk when there are a huge number of safe, natural alternative products. In addition to the components used in the analysis, there are a number of hazardous substances, the presence of which makes one think about the advisability of choosing a toothpaste containing them.

Beware if the paste contains:

Harmful components of toothpaste not only do not strengthen teeth, but destroy them. At the same time, bones and internal organs, there is a risk of the formation of cancerous tumors in any part of the body.

We don't eat pasta, we just brush our teeth with it! In fact, with daily brushing of teeth throughout our lives, we swallow more than 2.5 kilograms of the product, and with it harmful components, carcinogens. You need to be especially careful when choosing a cleaning agent for children's teeth. After all, kids are so fond of sweet, fragrant, colored toothpaste with the smell of strawberries or chewing gum, eating it with pleasure when brushing their teeth.

The environmental friendliness of any means is now not in last place. What do the colored stripes on the tubes of toothpaste mean, is it really possible to determine the naturalness of the components by these markings?

All shades of labels have already acquired a large number of rumors, but which ones are true?

Myths about the meaning of tube color

The most popular assumption about the origin of the strip on tubes is related to their composition. More precisely, with its naturalness:

  1. The red bar indicates that only half of the substances are natural.
  2. Black marking is an indicator of the chemical origin of the components.
  3. The green stripe is natural ingredients, i.e., a completely organic composition.
  4. Blue color indicates that 80% of the composition refers to chemical compounds.

Terms of Use

There is a statement that the frequency of using the opened package is indicated precisely by the stripes on the sealed part of the tubes. If you follow this theory, then you can use blue-marked paste all the time, but if it is red, then no more than 7 days. Restrictions are imposed due to the natural composition, which has a healing effect.

Black color indicates a strong whitening effect, so you need to use the product at regular intervals. But a tube with a green stripe can be used continuously for about 30 days, since such a remedy strengthens the teeth.

Number of dyes

Hypotheses regarding the origin of the stripes extend further:

  • from natural dyes consists of a paste with a green stripe, there are no synthetic impurities;
  • blue and brown markings indicate that natural product only half;
  • the black bar is purely chemical components.

Abrasive Components

Some believe that the label on the tube can tell about the amount of abrasive particles in the paste. They clean well, but long-term exposure to such particles destroys the enamel. If you follow the theory, then blue, black and brown shades testify to in large numbers abrasive, and therefore use tools with them for a short period of time.

Few cleaning components have a paste with a red marker. But still, she brushes her teeth only 3 days a week. But green is suitable for everyday use.

Disease protection

There is also an opinion that the label on the spike indicates the quality of protection against:

  1. With a green mark, the paste protects against disease through an ecological composition.
  2. A black mark indicates that the product has a low degree of protection and even provokes periodontal disease.
  3. If the mark is red, then the paste, although it has a synthetic composition, is still able to provide the desired degree of protection.

Race and amount of petroleum products

Some of the theories are very strange to hear, but there are those who link both of these features into one, suggesting that funds with a black mark are intended for the third world and Asia. Allegedly, it is in them that the maximum amount of oil products is present and, accordingly, they are of poor quality.

The blue label is an indicator of decent quality, more common in the United States. But the green and red stripes are marked for Europe. The first package speaks of environmental friendliness, and the second contains a small amount of impurities.

financial conspiracy

This theory links the difference between labels and prices. So, the red mark is an expensive tool, the black one is an indicator of cheapness and appropriate quality, but the blue color is applied to the pastes a little more expensive and better quality.

The hypothesis does not explain the origin of other shades on the sealed part of the tube. There are other opinions regarding their designation, but it makes no sense to give each of them.

What do the stripes on toothpaste tubes mean?

Speculation is enough, but they are not all true. If there is doubt about the quality of the composition of the paste, then you can read the composition to verify this thought or refute it.

The marking on the paste does not speak of secret messages or conspiracies. This is just a markup that helps the conveyor cut off the already blank tube of foil. The sensor recognizes the light mark when the package moves on the tape, cuts, twists and glues it. After that, the tube is filled with paste, it is soldered from one end, and the cap is screwed on from the other.

Why are the shades different?

The argument that the marks differ in color and therefore indicate quality also does not stand up to scrutiny. The color of the marking depends on the overall design of the paste. It is necessary that there be contrast, only then the sensor will work correctly. This is also confirmed by the fact that the color of the barcode is similar to this element.

If the overall shade of the tube is light, apply dark colors marks, and it will be light if the packaging is made in dark colors. For design, 4 colors are used, the rest of the shades only finalize the main background. It is important that they do not overlap each other, and the fifth shade is different from them.

The strip on the paste is sometimes missing, it all depends on the design. Some brands use other tube embellishments to replace the label. Therefore, you need to choose the right toothpaste based on the composition, not placing attention on the packaging elements.

Video: what do the stripes on toothpaste tubes mean?