S22 - Session O3 - Dye plants used for cosmetic applications: A patented world-wide innovation from Le Rouge Français

Authors: Laura Guillouzo *, Elodie Carpentier

In natural cosmetics, mineral pigments are mainly used as alternatives to synthetic pigments. These compounds coming from non-renewable resources, Le Rouge Français has chosen to find alternatives to minerals and to work with dye plants to its products, which represents an innovation in the field of cosmetics. In fact, pigments of plant origin are used in the textile industry for dyeing fabrics or in the food industry as a dye but not exploited in the field of make-up. Currently, there is no complete line of makeup based only on plant pigments. Using ancestral process of dye plant extraction, Le Rouge Français has started to develop its makeup line with lipsticks. A 15-shades line was launched in 2020 with vegetal pigment. Some dye plants used were Madder roots for red, Chestnut bark for beige or Indigo for blue. In 2021, Le Rouge Français continued to demonstrate its mastery of plant pigments by launching seven products for eyes (mascaras, eyeliners and eyepencil) and seven products for face (blush powders and creams, tinted balm). "Green" processes are implemented for the extraction and stabilization of plant pigment, the difficulty being to adapt these processes to cosmetics, to formulate a complete range of make-up products based on vegetable pigments. With our products already on sale, we will present processes to get stabilized shades/ texture and hold and the results. There are still many make-up products to be developed with plant pigments and which are being formulated in Le Rouge Français internal R&D department. Discover a new Path for clean beauty make-up practical applications without any compromises on quality and efficacy.