Safety Concerns for Color Pigments In Cosmetics
Thanks to extensive research and modern technology used in the cosmetic industry, innovations in cosmetic pigments and cosmetic lakes have enabled consumers to find better shades.
Brand investment in research and development labs has increased over the past few years. Cosmetic colors, including color pigments used for cosmetics, continue to be regulated for heavy metal content to prevent health hazards. This blog will discuss safety concerns for color pigments in cosmetics.
Pigments, also known as dyes or colorants, are broadly classified as organic and inorganic pigments. They are widely used as coloring agents in cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. There is a great difference between organic pigments and inorganic pigments based on their chemical properties and structure.
Iron oxides, chromium, ultramarine, etc., are a few examples of inorganic colorants used for producing cosmetics. In contrast, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are examples of organic colorants used in cosmetic applications. If you are still wondering what cosmetic color pigments are and how safe they are, continue reading this blog.
What are Cosmetic Color Pigments?
Cosmetic color pigments are finely ground particles that color cosmetics and skin care products. Cosmetic color pigments are insoluble, which means they don’t dissolve and remain suspended in a medium. Cosmetic color pigments and dyes are best suited for producing vibrant, bright, long-lasting colors.
There’s no doubt that cosmetic color pigments are safe to use as a colorant for coloring various cosmetic products. The primary purpose of cosmetic color pigments is to make the product more appealing and attractive to consumers. The bright shades in these cosmetics further enhance the beauty of people who wear them.
Why are Cosmetic colors used?
Cosmetic colors indicate various things, including people’s love and emotions for a particular color. In cosmetics or other industrial applications, colors are often given for consumers’ benefit, so they can choose shades to match their clothing.
Furthermore, this idea is strongly emphasised when selling nail colors and lipsticks. The color of the product packaging can complement the color of the product.
Types of Color Additives Used in Cosmetics
Two types of color additives are used in cosmetics: Organic and Inorganic.
What are Organic Colors?
Organic colors contain carbon atoms, while inorganic colors provide a mineral base. There are two types of organic colors: organic lakes and organic pigments. Synthetic dyes and lake colors, including aluminum lakes, are known as organic colors. Lake colors vs. pigments: There has been an ongoing debate about quality, color consistency, and stability.
Furthermore, organic dyes are oil-soluble or water-soluble, and some oil-soluble dyes are permitted for use in cosmetics. On the other hand, organic pigments include lakes and botanically derived colors.
What Are Inorganic Colors?
Inorganic color contains pigments, including titanium dioxide, ultramarines, and iron oxides. Iron oxides, zinc oxides, and others are known as inorganic colors. They undergo additional treatments to improve their characteristics. Color treatments enhance cosmetic products with sheen, UV protection, and water resistance, among other traits.
Safety Concerns for Color Pigments In Cosmetics
The manufacture of specific cosmetic products requires using particular colors with prescribed consistency. Regulations require rigorous testing of cosmetic colors to ensure that they do not harm users. Cosmetic dyes on the eyes may not be approved according to their approval for lip products.
Is it possible to make cosmetics with any color? The short answer is no! The color additives available on the market can be used to develop a variety of color variants. A person with a particular skin type in one nation may not wear colors that suit a person with a very different skin type in another.
Therefore, cosmetic manufacturers must work with renowned cosmetic color manufacturers to develop cosmetic pigments and cosmetic lakes according to the country’s regulations in which they plan to sell or market their products.
The USFDA provides guidelines for cosmetic color use. CI stands for Color Index and is the technique used to identify cosmetic colors within the European Union. Cosmetic labels display color codes and numbers so users can locate the permitted colors.
Numerous renowned Indian companies produce high-quality cosmetics that comply with the USFDA, EU, and other countries with a high demand for color cosmetics using cosmetic lakes, pigments, and dyes. Additionally, several well-equipped manufacturing facilities in Asian countries like India cater to cosmetics companies.
Exploring the myths about Heavy Metals in Cosmetics
Due to the health concerns associated with these heavy metal elements in cosmetics, their use has been limited due to their toxicity to the nervous system, reproduction issues, etc. If metals are used following safety guidelines, they do not pose a potential health risk to humans. Undeniably, heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead, mercury, zinc, iron, cadmium, aluminum, or chromium, can accumulate in cosmetics due to impurities or intentional actions.
Studies usually explain how excessive metals in cosmetics can cause side effects, allowing consumers to use beauty or health products with safe metal concentrations. The US Food and Drug Administration and the European Union (EU) have parameters of Maximum Allowable Concentrations (MACs) to assist manufacturers and consumers in understanding the maximum permissible metal concentrations in cosmetics.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that implementing reliable monitoring, testing, and quality assurance procedures while producing cosmetic products using color pigments, lakes, or dyes is crucial. Hridhan Chem is the most trusted manufacturer of safety-compliant cosmetic colors, and it follows rigorous workflows to ensure that heavy metals are controlled in cosmetic dyes and pigments.
If you need more information on the different types of cosmetic pigments, lakes, or dyes we produce at our manufacturing facility, contact us. Don’t be afraid to call our chem experts today!
