CI 12085

TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic colorant used to give cosmetics a red to orange-red shade, especially in color cosmetics where strong tinting is needed.

What does CI 12085 do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a synthetic colorant used to give cosmetics a red to orange-red shade, especially in color cosmetics where strong tinting is needed.

Is CI 12085 clean?

This ingredient has friction in clean-beauty frameworks because it is a synthetic organic colorant and may appear on retailer or brand restricted lists. It is regulated for specific cosmetic uses and purity specifications, so acceptance depends on market, product category, and certification target.

Is CI 12085 sustainable?

This material is typically made from petrochemical-derived aromatic intermediates rather than renewable feedstocks. It is not a strong fit for biodegradability-focused formulas, and synthetic colorants can carry persistence concerns in wastewater compared with readily biodegradable ingredients.

Is CI 12085 COSMOS-approved?

It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards as a cosmetic colorant. From a Green Chemistry perspective, it has weak alignment because it relies on nonrenewable feedstocks, multistep synthesis, and limited biodegradability.

How does CI 12085 work chemically?

The molecule is a synthetic azo colorant with an extended conjugated aromatic system, which is what gives it visible red-orange absorption. It is used at low color-adjustment levels or higher pigment loads in color cosmetics, and formulation performance depends on dispersion quality, regulatory purity, and compatibility with oils, waxes, and film-forming systems.

Last updated 2026-05-13