Carmine (CI 75470)

Carmine (CI 75470) is a bright red natural pigment derived from cochineal insects and standardized for cosmetic use. It's used to give vivid, stable crimson color with strong opacity and lightfastness in lipsticks, blushes, and pressed powders.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A red pigment from cochineal insects used to color makeup.
Category
Color
Type
Pigment

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Good

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Delivers intense scarlet color with strong payoff and good wear, and helps shades stay bold without noticeable fading.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Used in lip colors, cheek tints, and pressed powders to create red and pink hues.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

Generally considered safe for topical use; rare allergic reactions, including on lips or around eyes, can occur, so stop use if redness or swelling appears. It is an approved cosmetic colorant in many regions and is often required to be declared by name on labels due to allergy considerations.

Is Carmine (CI 75470) a Good Ingredient?

It delivers highly stable, bold red pigmentation with strong lightfastness and generally low irritation in most users, which earns it a Good rating; its broad regulatory acceptance in cosmetics supports consistent performance across shade ranges.

Products with Carmine (CI 75470)

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