Short, sourced, jargon-free articles on the questions we get asked most.
They look the same on the page — but they aren't.
Natural dyes come from plants, minerals, or microbes. Synthetic dyes are made from petrochemicals. The visible difference can be small, but the production footprint, regulatory framework, and skin-sensitisation profile often aren't.
It depends on the source.
A crop grown for pigment can be a sink for regenerative agriculture, or a monoculture with high water use. Microbial (fermentation) pigments avoid most of the agricultural footprint, but they require energy for fermentation and downstream processing.
Light, pH, heat, oxygen, and metal ions.
Most natural pigments are sensitive to one or more of these. A pigment that's stable in food (pH 4-6, opaque, no light) may fade in a clear cosmetic serum (pH 6-8, light-exposed). This is why formulation matters as much as pigment choice.
Generally, but "natural" isn't a regulatory category.
Some natural pigments (e.g. lawone from henna) are potent skin sensitizers. Some synthetic pigments (e.g. iron oxides) are among the safest colorants we have. The label "natural" tells you origin, not safety.
Looking for the regulatory view across regions?
See global compliance →