CI 77007 (Ultramarines)

Other names: Ultramarine blue, Ultramarine, C-Blau 16, Pigment Blue 29, Ultramarins, Ultramarine, Ultramarine blue, Ultramarinblau

Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)

CI 77007 (Ultramarines), also known as Ultramarine Blue, Ultramarine, C-Blau 16, Pigment Blue 29, Ultramarins, Ultramarine, Ultramarine blue or Ultramarinblau, is one of the best known and most widely used pigments in the cosmetics industry. It is a deep blue pigment derived from the mineral lasur, which is aluminium sulphate with finely dispersed silicon. Ultramarine was first synthetically produced in France in 1826 as a replacement for the expensive natural substance, lapis lazuli. Its notable feature is its high resistance to light, water and alkalis.

CI 77007 is very versatile and finds application in a variety of products. It is widely used in the cosmetics industry, particularly in decorative cosmetics such as eye shadows, powders, lipsticks, mascaras and other make-up products, where it provides highly pigmented, rich and durable shades of blue. It is also known for its use in skin care, toothpastes and soaps. In addition to the cosmetics industry, CI 77007 is also used in the paint industry to take advantage of its durability and distinctive color, and in the printing industry as a component of printing inks. Its properties also make it suitable for the manufacture of plastic toys where durable and vibrant colours are needed.