Carbon-black mineral pigments
Carbon-black mineral pigments are finely milled natural minerals used to create deep black, grey and charcoal shades in makeup such as mascaras, eyeliners, brow products and nail polishes. They deliver intense, opaque colour that is long-wearing and smudge-resistant. In the UK they are one of the most common colourants permitted for use around the eyes and on the lips.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics, carbon-black mineral pigments are dispersed into creams, waxes and emulsions where their tiny, uniform particles absorb light to produce a rich, velvety black finish. They are chemically inert and stable, helping formulas resist fading or colour shift while providing excellent coverage with only a small amount of pigment. UK formulators value them for their purity and compliance with strict colourant regulations for the eye area and lip products.
Key benefits
- Delivers intense, true black colour
- Provides excellent opacity and coverage
- Long-wearing and smudge-resistant
- Chemically stable in formulations
- Creates depth and definition in eye and brow makeup
- Gives a matte, velvety finish to cosmetics
Best for
all skin types, sensitive skin, oily skin, combination skin
Where it comes from
Carbon-black mineral pigments are derived from carefully controlled combustion of vegetable oils or natural gas, resulting in nearly pure elemental carbon in the form of fine particles. Although produced through a manufacturing process, the source material is mineral in nature once refined to cosmetic grade.
Products with Carbon-black mineral pigments
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Carbon-black mineral pigments than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.