Why We Use the Lipstick Pigments We Do

One of the most common questions we receive is about the pigments in our lipsticks.

Ingredients like titanium dioxide, iron oxides, and lake dyes have received a lot of attention online, and it's understandable that customers want to know what's in the products they wear every day.

The answer is more nuanced than many people realize.

The Most Regulated Ingredients in Your Lipstick Are Probably the Pigments

Most people assume that every ingredient in a cosmetic product is individually approved by the FDA before it reaches store shelves.

It isn't.

In the United States, color additives are one of the few categories of cosmetic ingredients that require FDA premarket approval. Every pigment used in a lipstick must be specifically approved for use on the lips, and many synthetic color additives are batch-certified by the FDA to verify their identity and purity before manufacturers can even purchase them.

By comparison, many of the ingredients that make up the majority of conventional lipsticks—such as silicones, polyethylene, synthetic polymers, and other texture-enhancing ingredients—do not go through this same approval process. Instead, cosmetic companies are responsible for ensuring their products are safe and comply with FDA regulations.

That distinction has had a big influence on how we formulate our products.

We Focus on Improving the 99%

Pigments make up less than 1% of our lipstick formula.

The remaining 99% is where we have the greatest opportunity to make meaningful formulation choices.

Instead of relying on silicones, plasticizers, and synthetic fillers commonly found in conventional lip products, we build our formulas with nourishing organic butters, organic oils and organic extracts that care for your lips while delivering beautiful performance.

That's where we believe we can make the biggest difference.

Why Don't You Just Use "Natural" Pigments?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions in clean beauty.

When it comes to lip products, cosmetic formulators don't have an endless list of natural color options to choose from.

The FDA has a relatively limited list of color additives that are permitted for use on the lips. Some are mineral pigments, like iron oxides and titanium dioxide. Others are certified color additives, including certain lake pigments, that create vibrant reds, pinks, berries, and corals that mineral pigments alone simply can't achieve.

If you've ever wondered why nearly every lipstick brand uses many of the same pigments, this is why: we're all working from the same relatively short list of approved colorants.

Why HIGHR Uses Both Mineral Pigments and Certified Color Additives

Every approved pigment has strengths and limitations.

Mineral pigments provide excellent opacity, stability, and earthy tones. Certified color additives provide the vibrant colors that make modern lipsticks possible.

By combining both, we're able to create flattering shades while using less total pigment overall.

In our formulas, pigments account for less than 1% of the finished product. If we relied exclusively on one category of pigment, we would need dramatically more pigment - potentially increasing the pigment load to around 10% of the formula - to achieve similar color payoff.

Our philosophy is simple: use the smallest amount of FDA-approved pigment necessary to create beautiful color.

What About Titanium Dioxide?

Titanium dioxide is often mentioned in conversations about cosmetics because it's one of the most widely used white mineral pigments.

In our lipstick, it's used as part of a carefully balanced pigment blend and represents only a small portion of the already tiny pigment phase - less than 1% of the total formula.

A dash of it helps create opacity, softness, and consistent color while allowing us to reduce the overall amount of pigment needed.

Our Formulation Philosophy

We don't believe there is a "perfect" pigment.

What we do believe is that thoughtful formulation matters.

That means:

• Using only FDA-approved color additives that are permitted for lip products.

• Keeping total pigment levels as low as possible.

• Replacing unnecessary synthetic base ingredients with organic butters, plant oils, and natural waxes.

• Creating products that perform beautifully while making intentional ingredient choices.

When we formulate, we don't just ask, "What color should this lipstick be?"

We ask, "What makes up the other 99%?"

Because that's where we believe we can have the greatest impact.