The skin, flesh and oil contain carotenoids and chlorophylls such as lutein, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, chlorophylls a and b, and pheophytins a and b. If you’ve used unrefined avocado oil before, you will know that it has a deep green colour and is so rich that it can even solidify slightly when cooled down. This dual solubility property of annatto is rare for carotenoids. The seeds contain 4.5–5.5% pigment, which consists of 70–80% bixin. Unlike beta-carotene, another well-known carotenoid, annatto-based pigments are not vitamin A precursors. The more norbixin in an annatto color, the more yellow it is a higher level of bixin gives it a more orange shade. The lipophilic colour is called bixin, which can then be saponified into water-soluble norbixin. The yellow to orange colour is produced by the chemical compounds bixin and norbixin, which are classified as carotenoids. The reddish orange colour dye of the annatto mainly comes from the resinous outer covering of the seeds of the plant. Main chemical pigment(s): Norbixin, BixinĪnnatto is an orange-red colourant derived from the seeds of the achiote tree ( Bixa orellana).Solubility: Lipohilic (Bixin), Hydrophilic (Norbixin).Keep in mind however that alkanet is toxic for internal use (hepatotoxic), so is best avoided for formulations such as lip balms. The main chemical compound found in alkanet root is called alkannin, which is soluble in alcohol, ether, and oils, but is insoluble in water. Although the plant’s flowers are blue, it has a dark red root of blackish appearance externally but blue-red inside, with a whitish core. AlkanetĪlkanet is a herb in the borage family, whose roots yield a dark red dye. These fruits also contain several flavone and flavonol glycosides, flavanol derivatives, and phenolic acids. The fruit also yields an oil which is deep green in colour and is pressed from the fruits (pulp) of the Açaí palm from Brazil. Their main chemical compounds are anthocyanins including cyanidin-3-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-glucoside, which are predominant in açaí fruits. Main chemical pigment(s): Cyanidin-3-rutinoside and Cyanidin-3-glucosideĪçaí berries are a dark purple in colour.
Solubility: Hydrophilic (extract), lipophilic (oil).In this article we’ve summarised 38 natural colourants for your organic skincare formulations: 1. Açaí We encourage you to embrace the natural colourants found in cosmetic ingredients. The natural and inherent colour of a product is proof of its authenticity. The green of avocado oil, the orange of buriti oil or the purple of elderberry extract are all signs that your ingredients are loaded with precious skincare ingredients such as beta-carotene or polyphenols. In other words, you might add 50% of a colourful oil to your formulation and still view the oil as a natural colourant.
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Instead, their colouring comes from native oils and plant extracts full of natural colourants, which are usually shamelessly removed by mainstream formulators and chemists.Īlthough the mainstream industry views a colourant as an ingredient which is added in tiny quantities to a formulation to impart colour, we’ve broadened the definition of natural colourants in our article to include any ingredient that is added in any quantity and imparts a colour. The colour in their products does not come from synthetic colourants, trying to imitate the green of apple or the pink of cherry blossom. In contrast to mainstream products, artisan manufacturers of organic cosmetics are proud of their colourful balms and lotions. Skincare products using natural colourants are taking the market by storm.