Colour Pigments
Colour pigments are natural or mineral-based powders used to add beautiful, long-lasting shades to makeup, lipsticks, eyeshadows and blushes. They give products their vibrant hues while remaining stable on the skin. In the UK, these are strictly regulated for cosmetic safety and can be derived from plants, minerals or approved synthetic sources.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, colour pigments are finely milled insoluble particles that impart tint and opacity when dispersed into creams, powders, waxes or oils. They work by reflecting and absorbing specific wavelengths of light to create the desired shade, providing even coverage without dissolving into the formula. UK formulators carefully select and blend these pigments to achieve consistent colour, good skin adhesion and wear-time while meeting strict EU and UK cosmetic regulations on purity and permitted levels.
Key benefits
- Delivers vibrant, buildable colour payoff
- Provides long-wearing coverage for lips and eyes
- Helps create a wide spectrum of flattering shades for all skin tones
- Improves product texture and blendability
- Enhances the visual finish of makeup and tinted skincare
- Allows precise colour matching in foundations and concealers
Best for
all skin types, sensitive skin, oily skin, combination skin, mature skin
Where it comes from
Colour pigments can come from natural mineral sources such as iron oxides, mica and titanium dioxide, or from plant-derived sources including beetroot, spirulina and annatto seeds. Many modern cosmetic pigments are also produced synthetically under strict UK and EU safety standards to ensure purity and consistency.