KELLY A. DOBOS
Cosmetics Technical Manager / Sun Chemical, President of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists

Color is an important means of communication in everyday life and in cosmetics color serves many purposes from reinforcing perception of key ingredients to facilitating self-expression with make-up. Color cosmetics have reached $48.3 billion in 2018, up 6% from $45.5 billion in 2017, according to research firm Mintel.  Bold, bright and glittery makeup looks are a staple of social media posts on Instagram and Pinterest and creative product photography and “shelfies” are used to showcase and promote cosmetics and personal care products.

It is important to understand the types of colorants used in cosmetics and their properties in order to select the proper colorant for the intended application. It is also extremely important to review stability and regulatory regulations when selecting colorants for cosmetics and personal care products. There are three broad categories of colorants that are used in cosmetics; dyes, pigments, and effects.

Dyes are color additives that are soluble in the medium in which they are used. For the purposes of this article hai ...