Did you know that most pink or red lipsticks contain crushed beetles?

 At Pink we have committed to using no animal by products and only Vegan ingredients. One of the most widely used ingredients in the makeup industry is Carmine or cochineal. We only use Micas and lake dyes, and NEVER use Carmine in our products.

 But do you know what you are actually putting on your lips???

Carmine is a natural crimson-coloured pigment, derived from a scale insect known as the cochineal. The parasitic insects can be found on the pads of prickly pear cacti. Female insects eat the red berries found on the cacti and it concentrates in their body and they produce carminic acid to ward off predators. These insects are brushed up, dried, crushed and processed to create cochineal extract and carmine (a more purified version of the colouring). The carminic acid is mixed with aluminium or calcium salts to make carmine dye, also known as cochineal. Around 70,000 cochineal insects are needed to produce 450 grams of dye.

Why it is used in cosmetics:

Carmine is used in cosmetics and personal care products for the bright red colour it imparts.
Cosmetic brands may use this ingredient as they believe it the best means to achieve the brilliant cool pinks and reds their customers are looking for while avoiding synthetic dyes andneatly aligning with the brand’s natural makeup claims. Carmine is very frequently used to add colour vibrancy, long-wear and shade intensity to makeup.

Why is it not vegan?:

It is not vegan because the product is derived from the crushed bodies of thousands of cochineal insects.

What products do you find this in?:

• Most red lipsticks
• Nailpolish
• Blush
• Eyeshadow
• Even food products, etc.

 Alternatives are:

Micas - Mica is a naturally occurring, non-toxic silicate mineral powder that can be used for colouring make-up

Lake dyes–Lakesare pigments formed by combining a soluble dye with a mordant, which is a metallic salt.

 All our mineral make up and colorants used in our soaps etc are all CARMNE Free. 

References:

http://blog.hmns.org/2012/11/color-me-carmine-cochineal-bugs-in-our-food-and-drink/