Market Availability of Natural Colorants: A Comprehensive Analysis
Keywords:
herbal natural colorants, curcumin, annatto (bixin/norbixin), crocin, indigo, lawsone.Abstract
Herbal natural colorants are becoming more and more popular as a result of the cosmetics industry's need for sustainable and natural alternatives. Compared to synthetic dyes, which are frequently linked to allergy responses and environmental issues, these plant-derived pigments provide a safer, more environmentally friendly and skin-compatible option. Flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids and chlorophyll are among the bioactive substances found in herbal colorants that are produced from plants including turmeric, beetroot, hibiscus, henna, saffron and indigo. Many of these substances have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antioxidant qualities in addition to their coloring capabilities, which give cosmetic formulations additional medicinal advantages. Notwithstanding its benefits, issues with scalability, color uniformity and stability for commercial use still exist. These restrictions are being lessened in part by developments in formulation and natural preservation strategies. This research highlights the potential of herbal natural colorants as both functional and aesthetically pleasing constituents formulations by examining their origins, characteristics, uses and current trends in cosmetic product use.