How we scored it
Where it comes from
Made by diazotising 2-amino-5-chloro-4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid (from petrochemical toluene) and coupling it with 2-naphthol, then laking with barium chloride. No natural-origin route exists, and barium is a mined mineral counter-ion.
In plain English
A red pigment used to colour make-up and other products. It is a synthetic azo dye made from petrochemical aromatic chemicals and precipitated as a barium salt so it does not dissolve.
CosIng definition: Pigment Red 53:1 is classed chemically as a monoazo color. It conforms to the formula (This color is the barium salt of Pigment Red 53).
Natural alternatives with the same function
Finely powdered aluminum metal used to add shimmer or color to cosmetics. It comes from refining bauxite ore,…
Aluminum Stearate 100% natural originAn aluminium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid from vegetable or animal fat. Used to prevent caking,…
Anthocyanins 100% natural originA natural colorant that gives products red, purple or blue tones. It is recovered from grape skins or…
Calcium Ferrite 100% natural originA mineral pigment made of calcium and iron oxide, used as a colourant in cosmetics. It is produced…
Calcium Stearate 100% natural originThe calcium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid usually from vegetable oils. Used as an anti-caking, thickening…
Caramel 100% natural originA colouring and fragrance ingredient made by heating sugar, sucrose or glucose, until it browns. It comes from…
Structure
barium(2+);bis(5-chloro-2-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)diazenyl]-4-methylbenzenesulfonate)
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.
- 2Pigment Red 53:1. PubChem CID 21238. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3PIGMENT RED 53:1. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4PIGMENT RED 53:1. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PIGMENT%20RED%2053%3A1