C Yellow No. 5 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic color additive used to give formulas a bright golden tone, especially in aqueous gels, cleansers, and makeup.
What does C Yellow No. 5 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a synthetic color additive used to give formulas a bright golden tone, especially in aqueous gels, cleansers, and makeup.
Is C Yellow No. 5 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it often faces restricted-list friction because it is a synthetic colorant and can be associated with sensitivity in a small subset of users. It is typically allowed only where the color additive is approved for the product category and region.
Is C Yellow No. 5 sustainable?
This material is generally made from petrochemical feedstocks through multi-step dye synthesis. It is water-soluble and not considered readily biodegradable, so its environmental profile is less aligned with low-persistence ingredient goals.
Is C Yellow No. 5 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic formulas because the standard generally excludes this type of synthetic color additive. Its Green Chemistry fit is weak due to nonrenewable feedstocks, multi-step processing, and limited ready biodegradability.
How does C Yellow No. 5 work chemically?
The molecule is a water-soluble, anionic sulfonated azo colorant used at very low levels to tint finished products. It is generally stable across common cosmetic pH ranges, but shade and compatibility can be affected by strong oxidizers, reducing agents, or cationic materials that form complexes.
Last updated 2026-05-15