Bixa Orellana Seed Extract
Plant pigment (annatto) from Bixa Orellana seeds. Gives orange-red tint to products, contains carotenoids with antioxidant activity in vitro.
Supporting ingredient
It gives a product its texture, stability or shelf life. It has no claimed effect on the skin, so an efficacy tier does not apply. What is known about its safety is below
Tolerability and safety
- Irritation potential
- Low
- Allergen risk
- Low
- Pregnancy
- Safe
- Suitable for
- Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Sensitive
About this ingredient
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract (annatto) is a plant pigment from the seeds of the tropical shrub Bixa orellana, native to Latin America. The main pigments are bixin (oil-soluble) and norbixin (water-soluble), both carotenoids. Mechanism. Gives a product a warm orange-red tint – on its own it does not act as a skin active; it works as a natural colorant. In vitro both bixin and norbixin show antioxidant activity, but at cosmetic concentrations the extract serves primarily as a dye. Where applied. Colour cosmetics (lipsticks, eyeshadows, blushers), tinted and SPF creams, self-tanners, products labelled 'no synthetic dyes'. Concentration 0.001–0.5%. In Spain in Sephora Collection, Mercadona Deliplus, niche natural lines. Food-industry use registered as E160b for butter, cheese, margarine. Safety. CIR confirmed cosmetic safety in 2017. Contact allergy is rare, described as isolated cases in patients with food allergy to annatto (after regular consumption of cheeses and spreads with E160b). Stains skin and packaging – formulas need buffering components and dark packaging. In pregnancy – safe topically. No direct lactation data, but the risk is purely theoretical. Realistic assessment. A natural colorant and a mild antioxidant. No standalone anti-age benefit. A reasonable choice for brands avoiding synthetic azo dyes. For antioxidant action there are stronger options (astaxanthin, ferulic acid, tocopherol).
Frequently asked questions
Is Bixa Orellana Seed Extract safe during pregnancy?
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract is considered safe during pregnancy at typical cosmetic concentrations. Systemic absorption through the skin is minimal.
What skin types is Bixa Orellana Seed Extract for?
Bixa Orellana Seed Extract suits: normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive.
What is Bixa Orellana Seed Extract and what does it do in cosmetics?
Plant pigment (annatto) from Bixa Orellana seeds.
What's the INCI name for Bixa Orellana Seed Extract?
The INCI name is Bixa Orellana Seed Extract. It may also appear as: Annatto.
See Bixa Orellana Seed Extract in a product composition right on the store page
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Similar role in the formula
Other functional ingredients
Boron Nitride, Butane, Buteth-3, Butyl Acetate, Dimethyl Phenethyl Acetate, Methyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Sodium Surfactin
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