September 30, 2009
Bugs In Your Makeup?
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Bugs in your makeup? That’s right!
I have decided to write about Carmines just to bring awareness to ingredients in makeup. It is really a personal choice for anyone trying to avoid animal or insect ingredients.
What is Carmine? It is the Cochineal insect.
Here is the definition from Wikipedia:
Carmine (pronounced /ˈkɑrmɪn/ or /ˈkɑrmaɪn/), also called Crimson Lake, Cochineal, Natural Red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120, is a pigment of a bright red color obtained from the carminic acid produced by some scale insects, such as the cochineal and the Polish cochineal, and is used as a general term for a particularly deep red color of the same name. Carmine is used in the manufacture of artificial flowers, paints, crimson ink, rouge, and other cosmetics, and is routinely added to food products such as yoghurt and certain brands of juice, most notably those of the ruby-red variety.
I know some of you are probably wondering what they look like so here is a picture:
Although Carmines are considered all natural and non-toxic, when used in food as a dye it can produce a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylactic shock in some people. Carmine is produced by boiling dried Cochineal insects in water to extract the carminic acid. It is used in makeup to produce a red dye which is then used in foundations, blush, eye shadows, lipstick, eyeliner and nail polish. I hope that this has helped you to understand what a Carmine is and how it is used in everyday products.
Earth Goddess Minerals is a Cruelty Free, Vegan, Mineral Makeup Company.
