Beauty ingredients explained in plain English

A dual-purpose colorant that adds pigment and antioxidant potential, but its skincare benefits are limited by the iron hydroxide base.

HC Blue No. 11 is a synthetic hair dye that can provide vibrant blue color, but it may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

HC Blue No. 15 is a synthetic hair dye that can deliver vibrant blue shades but may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

HC Blue No. 18 is a synthetic hair dye that adds blue tones to semi-permanent formulas; it is generally considered safe for external use but may cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals.

HC Blue No. 2 is a synthetic hair dye that delivers blue color but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

HC Orange No. 2 is a synthetic dye that adds orange shades to hair color, but it may cause irritation in sensitive individuals and has limited long-term safety data.

HC Red No. 15 is a synthetic dye for red hair color, but it may cause irritation in sensitive individuals and has limited safety data for long-term use.

HC Red No. 17 is a synthetic hair dye that adds red tones but may cause scalp irritation in sensitive individuals.

HC Red No. 18 is a synthetic colorant for hair dyes that can cause irritation in sensitive individuals, but is generally considered safe for use in rinse-off products.

HC Red No. 3 is a widely used synthetic hair dye colorant, but it may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals and has limited long-term safety data.

HC Red No. 7 is a synthetic colorant for hair dyes that can cause irritation in sensitive individuals, especially with frequent use.

HC Violet No. 1 is a synthetic dye that adds violet tones to hair, commonly used to neutralize brassiness or create cool shades, but it may cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals.

HC Yellow No. 10 is a common synthetic hair dye that adds yellow shades but may cause irritation for sensitive scalps.

HC Yellow No. 13 is a synthetic colorant used in hair dyes, generally considered safe in rinse-off products but may cause irritation for sensitive scalps.

HC Yellow No. 14 is a synthetic yellow dye for hair color, generally considered safe in regulated concentrations but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

HC Yellow No. 15 is a synthetic yellow dye for hair color, generally considered safe in rinse-off products but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

HC Yellow No. 16 is a synthetic colorant used in hair dyes, generally considered safe in regulated concentrations but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

HC Yellow No. 9 is a synthetic colorant used in hair dyes, generally considered safe for most people but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

Hematin is a natural pigment from blood that can add color to cosmetics, but its skincare benefits are not well-studied and it may stain skin or fabrics.

Holmium oxide is a rare earth oxide used as a colorant in cosmetics; it is generally considered safe at low concentrations but has limited research on skin absorption.

A synthetic colorant used in hair dyes; generally safe when used as directed but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A safe, non-irritating mineral pigment that gives warm yellow tones to makeup and skincare tints.

A safe, non-irritating black mineral pigment that adds color to makeup and skincare without clogging pores.

A safe, widely used mineral pigment that adds red tones to makeup and skincare — unlikely to irritate or clog pores.

A safe, non-irritating mineral pigment that provides yellow color in makeup and skincare, widely accepted for sensitive skin.

A safe, non-irritating mineral pigment that provides black color in makeup and skincare.

Iron powder is a safe, non-irritating mineral colorant widely used in makeup for its stable, opaque pigment.

Isatin is a synthetic dye rarely used in mainstream skincare; it may cause irritation in sensitive individuals and has limited cosmetic research.

Lapis lazuli adds a vivid blue hue to cosmetics but offers no proven skincare benefits beyond decoration.

Lapis lazuli extract adds a natural blue tint and may offer mild antioxidant benefits, but scientific research on its skincare effects is very limited.

Lawsone is a natural colorant from henna that stains hair and skin, but it can cause irritation in sensitive individuals and is not approved for use in leave-on cosmetics in some regions.

A safe, non-irritating pigment blend that provides color and coverage, but offers no active skincare benefits.

A synthetic mineral pigment that adds color and a soft-focus effect to makeup, but offers no skincare benefits.

Logwood extract is a natural pigment and antioxidant, but its skincare benefits are less studied than its coloring ability.

M-Aminophenol HCl is a synthetic dye ingredient used in permanent hair color to create cool, ashy shades, but it can be a skin irritant for some people.

Manganese dioxide is a safe mineral colorant used in makeup, but it has no proven skincare benefits beyond color and a slight absorbent effect.

Manganese oxide is a safe mineral pigment that adds color to makeup and may offer mild antioxidant benefits, but it's not a star skincare active.

Manganese Violet is a safe, non-irritating colorant that adds a muted purple hue to makeup, but it offers no skincare benefits.

Nickel gluconate is a known allergen and sensitizer; it is rarely used in modern skincare and is best avoided, especially for anyone with nickel allergy.

A synthetic optical brightener that makes products appear whiter or brighter, but with limited safety data and no proven skincare benefit.

A common synthetic ingredient in permanent hair dyes that helps create rich, lasting color but can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Palladium is a rare metal used mainly as a colorant in cosmetics, not a proven skincare active, and may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

Phenolsulfonphthalein is a synthetic dye used in tiny amounts for color; it has no proven skincare benefits and is generally safe at low concentrations.

Phenyl Methyl Pyrazolone is a synthetic colorant used in some cosmetics, but its safety data is limited and it may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

A widely used synthetic blue pigment that provides vibrant color with a strong safety record in cosmetics.

A synthetic red pigment that adds vibrant color to makeup but offers no skincare benefits.

A widely used synthetic red colorant in cosmetics, generally safe but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A synthetic colorant used in cosmetics for pigment, not a skincare active with benefits for skin health.

A common synthetic red dye in makeup, generally safe for most people but may cause irritation in sensitive skin or eyes.

A safe, widely used synthetic pigment that adds vibrant red color to makeup but offers no skincare benefits.

A safe, widely used synthetic red pigment that adds vibrant color to makeup but offers no skincare benefits.

A widely used synthetic red dye that is generally safe in cosmetics but offers no skincare benefits.

A widely used synthetic dye that adds vibrant red color to cosmetics, generally considered safe at low concentrations but may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.

A widely used synthetic colorant that adds vibrant red shades to makeup but offers no skincare benefits.

CI 14815 is a synthetic red dye that adds vibrant color to cosmetics, but it offers no skincare benefits and may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

A widely used synthetic red pigment that adds color to makeup but offers no skincare benefits.

A common synthetic red dye that adds color to cosmetics but offers no skincare benefits; generally safe for most people but may cause reactions in sensitive individuals.

A widely used synthetic red dye that adds color to cosmetics but offers no skincare benefits.

A widely used synthetic red pigment that is generally safe in cosmetics but offers no skincare benefits.

A widely used synthetic red pigment that adds vibrant color to makeup, generally considered safe at low concentrations but may cause sensitivity in some individuals.