In cosmetic formulation design, pigment selection is of vital importance. Among them, inorganic pigments—renowned for their exceptional stability, coverage, and refined color performance—have become indispensable ingredients in many makeup products. UNI-POWDER invites you to explore the features, common types, and practical applications of inorganic pigments in cosmetics.
What are Inorganic Pigments?
Inorganic pigments are composed of inorganic compounds and are widely used in cosmetics as colorants, providing products with stable hues. Known for their excellent heat, light, and chemical stability, these pigments maintain consistent performance even under prolonged or challenging conditions. Although their color range is somewhat narrower than that of organic pigments, their superior coverage and lightfastness make them ideal for makeup products such as foundations, eyeshadows, and lipsticks.
Main Types of Inorganic Pigments
● Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is the most commonly used white pigment, existing in two crystalline forms: Anatase and Rutile. Rutile has a higher refractive index, providing excellent coverage and brightness, while Anatase has a slightly lower refractive index, offering softer light scattering that is better suited for natural makeup effects. Particle sizes range from tens of nanometers to several microns, with different sizes determining the balance between coverage and transparency.
●●● Iron Oxides
Iron oxides provide red, yellow, and black shades, with crystalline forms including hematite, magnetite hematite, and magnetite. The use of iron oxide pigments dates back to prehistoric cave paintings and ancient Egyptian cosmetics, where natural iron powders were used for eyeliners and blushes. This long-standing tradition continues in modern cosmetics, with iron oxides widely applied in foundations, blushes, and concealers. Their high stability and excellent coverage make them the preferred pigments for base makeup color adjustment.
●●● Ultramarine
Ultramarine is a historic and vividly blue pigment, originally extracted from Lapis Lazuli mines in Afghanistan. Due to its rarity and purity, ultramarine was once valued higher than gold during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and it was the preferred pigment for depicting skies and the robes of the Virgin Mary. In modern times, ultramarine is fully synthetically produced, reducing cost while maintaining its premium, pure blue characteristics.
Functionally, ultramarine is often used for whitening, effectively neutralizing yellow tones in white coatings or other white pigments. It is insoluble in water, resistant to alkali and high temperatures, and highly stable against sunlight, wind, and rain. However, it is acid-sensitive and may decompose or discolor when exposed to acidic conditions.
● Chrome Oxide Green
Chrome oxide green is a chemically stable green metal salt pigment with excellent light and heat resistance. It appears as a pure green by absorbing red and blue light. In the 19th century, European artists used it in oil paintings and ceramic coloring. In modern cosmetics, it is applied to neutralize red or yellow undertones in the skin, continuing the long-standing tradition of using green pigments for color correction.
● Carbon Black
Carbon black is a high-performance black pigment that has been thoroughly purified and safety-assessed. It features fine particles and strong coloring power, delivering a deep, pure black effect. Widely used in mascaras, eyeliners, and brow pencils, it provides rich, long-lasting color performance in makeup products.
Professional Inorganic Pigment Solutions
Inorganic pigments play a crucial role in cosmetic formulations due to their excellent stability and coverage. They not only enhance the concealing and corrective effects of foundations but also deliver vivid, long-lasting color in makeup products, providing irreplaceable value.
UNI-POWDER offers a full range of high-quality inorganic pigments, including titanium dioxide, iron oxides, ultramarine, chrome oxide green, and carbon black. Carefully selected and surface-treated, these pigments feature outstanding stability and safety, meeting the diverse needs of formulation development.
If you are looking for premium inorganic pigments or professional support, contact us. Our R&D team can provide formulation optimization advice and technical support tailored to your specific requirements, helping you enhance product performance and market competitiveness.
About UNI-POWDER
Shanghai Co-fun Biotech owns the registered trademark UNI-POWDER, one of China's leading suppliers of powder materials for cosmetics. Who focuses on researching, producing, surface treating, and applying high-performance cosmetic powders. Since our establishment in 2010, our goal at UNI-POWDER has been to prioritize customer centricity by providing one-stop-shop solutions using top-notch raw materials and formulations. Our product line includes the functional raw material for sunscreen, makeup, skincare, and powder customization services. We are committed to the spirit of craftsmanship; we hope that every makeup look can benefit from UNI-POWDER.
Post time: Sep-17-2025