CI 40800 / BETA-CAROTENE ●
TL;DR. It primarily serves as an oil-soluble orange colorant, tinting balms, oils, emulsions, and anhydrous products. It can also contribute antioxidant activity in the oil phase, but color is the main formulation role.
What does CI 40800 / BETA-CAROTENE do in a cosmetic formula?
It primarily serves as an oil-soluble orange colorant, tinting balms, oils, emulsions, and anhydrous products. It can also contribute antioxidant activity in the oil phase, but color is the main formulation role.
Is CI 40800 / BETA-CAROTENE clean?
It is generally well tolerated at cosmetic color-use levels and is not a common sensitizer. Clean-beauty friction is low, with the main caveats being source transparency, solvent residues, and freshness controls for oxidation byproducts.
Is CI 40800 / BETA-CAROTENE sustainable?
It can be sourced from plant materials, algae, fermentation, or petrochemical synthesis, so the sustainability profile depends on that route. It is light- and oxygen-sensitive and breaks down rather than persisting, while crop-based routes can carry land-use or palm-related questions.
Is CI 40800 / BETA-CAROTENE COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS when sourced and processed through allowed natural-origin routes, while synthetic colorant routes may not qualify for organic or natural certification. It fits Green Chemistry best when made from renewable feedstocks with permitted extraction solvents and stabilized in low-impact oil carriers.
How does CI 40800 / BETA-CAROTENE work chemically?
The molecule is a highly conjugated, nonpolar C40 hydrocarbon, which explains its orange color, oil solubility, and sensitivity to light, oxygen, and heat. Typical use is very low, often about 0.001–0.1% for tinting, and formulators usually pair it with antioxidants, opaque packaging, and cool processing to limit oxidation and color fade.
Last updated 2026-05-13