CI 15985 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic colorant used to give formulas a yellow to orange shade. It has no skin-care activity and is included for visual color control.
What does CI 15985 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a synthetic colorant used to give formulas a yellow to orange shade. It has no skin-care activity and is included for visual color control.
Is CI 15985 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is a synthetic azo colorant and may appear on restricted or non-preferred lists for brands that limit artificial dyes. It is regulated for cosmetic use in approved applications, but sensitivity reactions are possible in a small subset of users.
Is CI 15985 sustainable?
This material is typically petroleum-derived and made through synthetic dye chemistry rather than renewable sourcing. It is water-soluble, but synthetic azo dyes are not strong fits for biodegradability or low-persistence expectations in wastewater systems.
Is CI 15985 COSMOS-approved?
This ingredient is generally not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because synthetic cosmetic colorants of this type do not align with the standard’s colorant rules. Its Green Chemistry fit is weak due to petrochemical feedstocks, multi-step synthesis, and limited biodegradability profile.
How does CI 15985 work chemically?
The molecule is a sulfonated azo dye salt, which makes it highly water-soluble and effective at very low concentrations, often well below 0.1% depending on shade target and product type. It is generally compatible with aqueous systems across typical cosmetic pH ranges, but color strength can shift with strong oxidizers, reducers, intense light exposure, or interactions with certain cationic ingredients.
Last updated 2026-05-13