Iron Oxides
Colorant · INCI: Iron Oxides
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Iron Oxides comedogenic?
No. Iron Oxides isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Iron oxides are mineral pigments in red, yellow and black that are blended to make the skin-tone shades in foundations, concealers and tinted sunscreens. They are insoluble color particles used in small amounts. We read the whole family of shades as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
On a label they appear as CI 77491, CI 77492 and CI 77499, often after the words May Contain, since one list covers every shade. A tinted product that congests is more likely doing it through its oils, esters or waxes than its color.
Where it shows up
Foundations, concealers, tinted moisturizers, tinted mineral sunscreens, bronzers, blushes and eyeshadows. Anything sold in a range of skin-tone shades is likely colored with them.
Names we read the same way
- CI 77491
- CI 77492
- CI 77499
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What acne actually is.