Ingredient glossary / Colorant
Iron oxide (yellow)
On the label: CI 77492 · Colorant
What it is
Yellow iron oxide pigment, one of the three foundation primaries.
Colorants: Colorants tint the product or the skin; in the US each is listed by its FDA name (CI number or D&C name).
Wikidata: Class of chemical compounds composed of iron and oxygen. Q721849 →
In the research
267 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Membrane-Coated Iron Oxide (Fe(3)O(4)) Nanoparticles Encapsulating Dacarbazine Suppress B16F10 Melanoma Cell Activity in vitro and in a Subcutaneous Mouse Model · International journal of nanomedicine, 2026
- Beyond UV: Visible Light and Pigmentation · Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine, 2026
- The Influence of Sunscreen Use on Skin Pigmentation Disorders: Melasma, Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, and Vitiligo · Current issues in molecular biology, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Other colorants
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.