What is a "pressed pigment"?Updated 2 months ago

Pressed pigments differ from a typical eyeshadow formula in that they do not contain filler ingredients and are used to achieve more vibrant shades. Because of this, pressed pigments have colorants that tend to cause staining on the skin and are recommended to not be used in the immediate eye area according to the US FDA. These regulations currently only apply to the US and are considered safe in other regions such as Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Canada. In cosmetics, carmine, an ingredient made of crushed beetles, is used to achieve shades of red, pink, and purple. Certain colorants are often substituted in place of carmine to create the same shades while also ensuring the formula is vegan.

These colorants include Red 6, Red 6 Lake, Red 7, Red 7 Lake, Red 21 Lake, Red 22 Lake, Red 27, Red 27 Lake, Red 28, Red 28 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 10 Lake and/or Silver.