CI 77492/IRON OXIDE ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a yellow inorganic colorant used to tint makeup, skin care, hair products, and soaps. It also contributes opacity and shade adjustment in blends with other mineral pigments.
What does CI 77492/IRON OXIDE do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a yellow inorganic colorant used to tint makeup, skin care, hair products, and soaps. It also contributes opacity and shade adjustment in blends with other mineral pigments.
Is CI 77492/IRON OXIDE clean?
This ingredient is generally well tolerated because it is insoluble and not a common sensitizer. Clean frameworks usually allow it when cosmetic-grade purity limits for trace metals are met.
Is CI 77492/IRON OXIDE sustainable?
This material is mineral-derived or synthesized from mineral feedstocks, so it is not renewable and does not biodegrade in the way plant-derived organics do. It is environmentally inert in finished-product use, with the main sustainability questions tied to mining, purification, and energy used in pigment manufacture.
Is CI 77492/IRON OXIDE COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted in COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic products as an approved mineral colorant, provided cosmetic purity requirements are met, but it does not contribute to organic content. From a Green Chemistry lens, it scores well for stability and low reactivity, while losing points for nonrenewable feedstocks and lack of biodegradability.
How does CI 77492/IRON OXIDE work chemically?
The molecule is an insoluble, crystalline inorganic solid made from trivalent iron coordinated with oxygen and hydroxyl groups. It is typically used from trace levels to several percent depending on shade, remains heat- and light-stable across normal cosmetic pH, and needs good dispersion with wetting agents for even color.
Last updated 2026-05-14