Encyclopedia

Colorants

9 colorant ingredients explained in plain English.

Alkanna Alkanna Tinctoria Root Extract A purple-red root dye that infuses into oil, popular for naturally coloring lip balms, soaps, and oil-based serums. 1-5% (of infused oil) Annatto Bixa Orellana Seed Extract A natural orange-yellow colorant extracted from achiote seeds, used to tint soaps, lip products, and lotions. 0.1-1% Chlorophyll Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex (CI 75810) A concentrated green pigment available in water-soluble and oil-soluble forms, used to naturally color soaps, lotions, and lip products. 0.01-0.5% Chrome Oxide Green Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288) An extremely stable, opaque green mineral pigment — the most reliable way to get true green in mineral makeup and soap. 0.5-5% Indigo Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Powder A blue plant-based dye powder used in soap, hair color, and artistic cosmetics for cool blue to purple tones. 0.5-5% Iron Oxides Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) Mineral pigments in red, yellow, and black — the foundation of every natural-looking makeup shade from nude to deep brown. 0.5-5% (makeup), 0.1-1% (soap) Ultramarine Blue Ultramarines (CI 77007) A vivid synthetic mineral pigment that delivers true blue in eyeshadow, soap, bath bombs, and color cosmetics. 0.5-5% Ultramarine Pink Ultramarines (CI 77007) A soft pink-to-rose synthetic mineral pigment made by heating ultramarine blue with ammonium chloride. Heat stable, alkali stable, but degrades in acid — keep it above pH 4. 1-30% Ultramarine Violet Ultramarines (CI 77007) A deep violet synthetic mineral pigment from the ultramarine family. Heat and alkali stable, but not acid stable — keep it above pH 4. 1-30%