CI 77491/77492/77499 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is an inorganic colorant used to create red, yellow, brown, and black tones in makeup, sunscreens, and tinted skin care. It provides opacity, shade adjustment, and visual coverage rather than preservation or skin treatment.
What does CI 77491/77492/77499 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is an inorganic colorant used to create red, yellow, brown, and black tones in makeup, sunscreens, and tinted skin care. It provides opacity, shade adjustment, and visual coverage rather than preservation or skin treatment.
Is CI 77491/77492/77499 clean?
It is broadly accepted in clean-beauty frameworks because it is generally low-irritation, non-sensitizing, and tightly regulated for purity. The main clean-standard focus is trace heavy-metal control, which is handled through cosmetic-grade specifications.
Is CI 77491/77492/77499 sustainable?
This material is mineral-derived or synthesized from abundant mineral feedstocks, so it does not rely on petrochemical fragrance chemistry or high-pressure crop sourcing. It is not biodegradable in the organic-chemistry sense, but it is insoluble, stable, and not associated with bioaccumulation concerns in normal cosmetic use.
Is CI 77491/77492/77499 COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when it meets colorant and purity requirements. From a Green Chemistry view, it scores well for stability, low reactivity, and low use levels, with the main caveat being mineral processing rather than renewable sourcing.
How does CI 77491/77492/77499 work chemically?
The material is an inorganic, insoluble particulate pigment whose shade depends on crystal form, particle size, and surface treatment. Typical use can range from trace shade correction below 1% to much higher levels in color cosmetics, and it is generally stable across normal cosmetic pH, heat, and light exposure.
Last updated 2026-05-13