How we scored it
Where it comes from
Manufactured by sulfonation of synthetic 2-(2-quinolyl)indan-1,3-dione, isolated as sodium salts of mixed mono- and disulfonated forms. No natural-origin route exists.
In plain English
A synthetic yellow dye used to colour hair, based on a petrochemical quinoline dye core; its sulfonate groups come from a mineral source.
CosIng definition: Acid Yellow 3 is a mixture of the sodium salts of the mono- and disulfonic acids of 2-(2-quinolyl)-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione. It is principally disulfonated, similar to CI 47005 and Ki203, whereas Yellow 10 is principally monosulfonated. (To identify the disulfonated colorant allowed for use in the European Union (EU), the INCI Name CI 47005 (q.v.) must be used, except for hair dye products).
Natural alternatives with the same function
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Lawsonia Inermis Extract 100% natural originA plant extract from the henna shrub, used to condition hair and skin and add a reddish tint.…
Pyrogallol 100% natural originA hair-dye ingredient traditionally made by heating gallic acid, itself extracted from plant tannins in gallnuts, until it…
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2ACID YELLOW 3. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3ACID YELLOW 3. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ACID%20YELLOW%203