Chrome Oxide Green

Overview

Chromium oxide green is a synthetic mineral pigment that delivers a muted, earthy, olive-to-forest green. It is one of the most stable pigments available to formulators — resistant to heat, light, pH changes, and chemical exposure. If you need a green that will not fade, shift, or degrade under any normal cosmetic condition, this is the one.

The pigment is dense and highly opaque. A little goes a long way. It has been used in cosmetics for decades and has an excellent safety profile. Cosmetic-grade chromium oxide green is approved for use in virtually all product types, including eye-area and lip products in most jurisdictions.

There is a closely related pigment worth knowing: chromium hydroxide green (CI 77289), sometimes called hydrated chrome oxide or viridian. It is a brighter, more vivid, slightly blue-toned green compared to the muted olive of CI 77288. Some formulators use the two together — the oxide for depth and the hydroxide for vibrancy. Both are cosmetic-grade mineral pigments with similar handling requirements.

What it does in a formula

Chrome oxide green provides opaque green color. The shade is a natural, muted green — think army green or olive rather than neon or emerald. This makes it useful for earthy-toned eyeshadows, green-themed soap swirls, camouflage-style concealer palettes, and natural-looking mineral cosmetics.

When blended with yellow iron oxide, it shifts toward warm olive and khaki. Blended with ultramarine blue, it shifts toward teal. Blended with mica and titanium dioxide, it produces a lighter sage or mint. The blending versatility is excellent.

How to use

Pre-disperse in oil or glycerin before adding to the main batch. Chrome oxide green is dense and slightly gritty — thorough grinding or mulling is important, especially for face products where texture matters.

Usage rates by product type:

• Eyeshadow: 2-5% (blended with mica base)
• Mineral foundation (color-correcting green): 0.5-2%
• Cold-process soap: 0.5-1.5% (per pound of oils)
• Bath bombs: 0.5-2%
• Lip products: 0.5-2%
• Loose or pressed powder: 1-5%

Chrome oxide green is stable at all temperatures you will encounter in cosmetic making. Add it at any stage — it will not degrade.

Best for / Worst for

Best for: eyeshadow (matte olive and forest green shades), cold-process soap, mineral makeup, color-correcting concealers, bath bombs, any formula that needs bulletproof green color stability.

Worst for: formulas where you need a bright, vivid green (the oxide is muted and earthy — use CI 77289 or a green mica blend for vibrancy), transparent products (it is very opaque), products where gritty texture is unacceptable and you cannot mill finely enough.

Common pitfalls

Expecting vivid green. CI 77288 is an olive-to-forest muted green. For a brighter, more jewel-toned green, use chromium hydroxide green (CI 77289) or blend with a green mica.

Insufficient grinding. The particles are hard and dense. In eyeshadow and face products, poor milling leaves a scratchy feel. Use a mortar and pestle, muller, or ball mill to refine the texture.

Confusing CI 77288 with CI 77289. They are different pigments with different shades. CI 77288 is the muted olive. CI 77289 is the brighter, hydrated green. Know which one your formula needs.

Overuse in soap. Above about 1.5% in cold-process soap, the pigment can accumulate and leave green residue on skin or washcloths. Start at 0.5% and increase gradually.

Using non-cosmetic-grade. Industrial chromium oxide is widely available as a polishing compound and is much cheaper than cosmetic grade. It is not purified for skin safety. Always verify cosmetic-grade certification.

Substitutes

• Chromium hydroxide green (CI 77289) — brighter, more vivid green from the same mineral family.
• Green mica blends — pearlescent shimmer green, less opaque.
• Spirulina powder — natural green, but unstable (fades and shifts brown over time).
• Chlorophyll — natural green pigment, extremely unstable in most cosmetic bases.
• French green clay — for soap and masks, provides a muted sage-green.
• Iron oxide yellow + ultramarine blue blend — creates an olive-green without using chromium-based pigments.