Shop Natural & Non-Toxic Pigments | Natural Pigments

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Shop Natural Non-Toxic Pigments
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What are Natural Pigments?
Natural pigments are colored substances that are
derived from natural sources, such as minerals or
from plants and insects. The colorants may be
ground, washed and sifted, but otherwise are not
chemically modified. As an example, the natural
pigment yellow ocher is derived from the iron
oxide mineral goethite found in many locations
throughout the earth. The mineral is ground into
small particles, washed, and sifted but remains
an iron oxide mineral.
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What Does Non-Toxic Mean?
Non-toxic is a claim with almost no
regulationits mostly a marketing term.
Non-toxic means the product is not poisonous or
doesnt contain ingredients that have been linked
to toxic responses (like hormone disruption,
cancer, etc.) in humans. However, the marketing
claim of non-toxic is usually restricted to the
product's intended applicationnot all possible
uses of the product. So, a pigment may be
considered non-toxic in an artists paint, but
not in cosmetics or food. Pigments used in
artists paint do not come in frequent contact
with human skin and are unlikely to be absorbed
through the skin. On the other hand, pigments
intended for cosmetics are applied to the skin,
and those made for food are consumed.
Manufacturers cannot anticipate every use of
their products, so they may label them non-toxic
for their intended use. Always determine the
intended use of a pigment before selecting it for
your application.
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How to Find Non-Toxic Pigments
To see which pigments are considered non-toxic on
this website, select Non-Toxic in the shopping
filter on the lefthand side of any Pigment
category page. (See the box to the left.) There
you can also narrow the results of your search by
selecting Natural, Earth, or any other pigment
type.
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Why Use Natural Pigments?
Synthetic pigments today are made to serve the
paint industry, in which producing paints for
artists plays a minor role. To achieve maximum
desirability in paint today, pigments are made
homogenous in shape, size, and composition. For
example, to increase the covering power of
pigments, particle sizes are made as small as
possible. The smaller the particles, the more the
color nuances of the pigment are reduced to its
basic hue, as in inks that have no texture.
Particles that are homogenous in shape and size
also tend not to settle quickly and separate from
the binder during storage. This increases the
shelf life and thereby the marketability of
paint, but reduces its beauty as a color for
artists use. As Anita Albus wrote in Art of
Arts, The result is not perfection, but
sterility.
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What's the DifferenceArtificial or Synthetic
Artificial is anything that is made by humans
rather than Nature. Synthetic is also something
human-made but refers more specifically to
chemical synthesis. Thus an item carved from wood
would be artificial, while a pigment derived from
a natural mineral and is chemically altered into
a new form would be synthetic.
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What Pigments Can Be Used in Cosmetics and
Personal Care Products?
Even if a pigment is considered non-toxic, it
does not mean it is approved for use in personal
care products and cosmetics.
In the United States, pigments and color
additives approved for such use are determined by
the United States Food and Drug Administration
and are listed in the Summary of Color Additives
for Use in the United States in Foods, Drugs,
Cosmetics, and Medical Devices. You can find this
document online here.
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