Iron Oxide Red

CI number: 77491

INCI: Iron Oxides (CI 77491)

Red iron oxide is an inorganic pigment widely used in:

• Makeup (foundations, powders, blush, lipstick)
• Sunscreens (for blue-light protection)
• Tinted moisturizers & BB creams
• Cosmetic color blends (with yellow & black oxides)
• It provides stable, earthy red tones with excellent coverage and high stability.

🔹 Key Properties

✔ Pigment Type

Inorganic, mineral-based
Extremely stable
Non-reactive
UV-stable and heat-stable
Non-bleeding, non-migrating

✔ Colour Tone

Red iron oxide delivers:
Brick red tones
Rust red tones
Terracotta tones

🔹 Cosmetic Benefits

1. Strong Colour Payoff
Provides opacity, coverage, and colour depth.

2. Photoprotective Effects
In tinted sunscreens, iron oxides help protect against:
Visible light
Blue light (HEV)
This is essential for hyperpigmentation-prone skin (melasma, PIH).

3. High Safety Profile
Non-irritating
Non-comedogenic
Safe for eyes, lips, face, and skin.

🔹 Formulation Uses

Typical Use Levels
Foundations: 1–5%
Concealers: 2–8%
Tinted sunscreen: 0.5–3%
Lipsticks: 0.5–3% (often higher in blends)
Blush: 4–20% (combined with other pigments)

🔹 Formulation Tips

1. Iron oxides require proper dispersion
Because they are very fine and can clump:
Pre-disperse in oil (caprylic/capric triglyceride, isododecane, castor oil)
Use high shear to break aggregates
Combine with dispersing agents (e.g., lecithin, PEG-20 castor oil, polyglyceryl esters)

2. Combine with Yellow & Black Iron Oxides
To create natural skin tones:
Yellow (CI 77492)
Black (CI 77499)
Red forms the warm base; yellow adjusts undertone; black adds depth.

3. Compatible With
Silicones
Emollients
Waxes
Mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)
Surfactant systems in wash-offs

4. Not Soluble
Iron oxides are insoluble pigments — they must be dispersed, not dissolved.

Price: 10g 120
50g 600
100g 1200