How we scored it
FeO: iron and oxygen both mineral; iron oxides are natural origin under ISO 16128: 1.00.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.
Where it comes from
Cosmetic iron oxides are mostly produced by precipitation or oxidation of iron salts (scrap iron, ferrous sulfate), with a smaller share milled from natural ochre or mineral deposits. Both routes give a mineral-origin product.
In plain English
A dark iron oxide (ferrous oxide) pigment used to colour make-up and skin products. Cosmetic iron oxides are usually made from iron salts, which gives consistent purity and colour, rather than mined directly.
CosIng definition: CI 77489 is classed chemically as an inorganic colour. It consists chiefly of ferrous oxide that conforms to the formula:
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.
- 2CI 77489. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3CI 77489. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CI%2077489