Red Iron Oxide (CI 77491)

INCI Name

CI 77491 (Iron Oxides – Red)

Botanical Name

None

Red Iron Oxide (CI 77491) is a cosmetic-grade mineral pigment that provides safe, stable red coloration. It is widely used in natural and conventional formulations for its excellent stability, opacity, and skin safety.

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Primary Function
Mineral/Pigment
Add'l Function
Colorant
Opacifier
Scent Profile
Odorless
Neutral
Is It Natural?
Naturally Identical Mineral (Lab-Refined)
Formulate with Confidence

Botanical Building Blocks for Every Blend

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Skin Type Suitability

All
Sensitive
Oily
Dry
Combination
Normal
Baby/Child Safe
Considered Safe for Babies
Considered Safe for Teens
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Typical Product Use

Colorant, pigment, opacifying agent

Product Type(s):

Makeup

Typical Usage Range:

Up to 10% in color cosmetics; levels vary by application (lipstick, blush, foundation, etc.)

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Supportive Qualities

Provides stable, non-bleeding red coloration in cosmetics; highly safe and non-reactive; used in traditional mineral pigments for makeup and skin decoration

Primary Components:

Ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃)

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Important to Know

Generally recognized as safe; rare irritation possible in extremely sensitive individuals

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Sourcing Tips

Preferred Extraction Method:

Synthetic precipitation (lab-prepared, purified mineral pigment)

Use cosmetic-grade, purified forms; ensure compliance with FDA/EU regulations; check for heavy metal safety certification

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More information*

Explore additional safety and regulatory data from trusted external sources:

Cosmetics Info
Cosmetic Ingredient Review
EWG's Skin Deep
INCIDecoder
SkinSAFE
SpecialChem

*The ingredient details on this page are intended for general educational use and should not be considered exhaustive. Additional properties, uses, or safety considerations may be available from other sources. Root & Ritual Apothecary is not affiliated with Cosmetics Info, Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), INCIDecoder, SkinSafe, EWG Skin Deep, or SpecialChem. External links are provided solely for informational purposes; Root & Ritual does not control or guarantee the accuracy, methodology, or conclusions of third-party sources, including consumer rating systems such as EWG.