Color can be found everywhere in nature, from autumn leaves bursting into fiery red to the subtle blues and violets of tiger stripes. Natural colors are eco-friendly and gentle on skin.
Natural dyes provide a wide spectrum of hues that can be found in vegetables, spices, fruits, algae or microorganisms sourced for food and cosmetic applications. Also referred to as natural dyes.
Natural Food Colors
Natural food colorings are made up of various additives derived from fruits, vegetables, herbs, animals and minerals that add hues to food and drinks. They offer an effective alternative to artificial dyes as they tend to be healthier and safer options.
Colorants are typically extracted from natural sources like fruits and vegetables by crushing, boiling or juicing to extract their pigments which make up their colors. After this step they are concentrated, enhanced and stabilized for use in food products and then FDA certified batch testing is conducted to ensure consistent quality and safety of use.
Food manufacturers are making moves away from synthetic colorings in favor of more natural options, and some consumers still prefer all-natural food and drink products as an option. But concerns still surround certain additives – including the Southampton study linking them with ADHD in children – making these decisions by food and beverage producers and consumers a difficult one to make.
Natural Cosmetic Colors
Natural cosmetic colorants offer an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic dyes, with an array of hues derived directly from plants and minerals. This approach aligns perfectly with consumer demand for transparent labeling and ingredient sourcing, and creates an authentic connection between beauty brands and customers.
Paprika, turmeric, saffron and mica are some of the more popular natural colorants found in cosmetics and skincare. While they don’t provide as vivid hues as synthetic dyes commonly found in supermarket products, they still create skincare formulations which give skin an appealing glow.
90 percent of snap judgments about products are based on color alone. Therefore, beauty & skin care products need to be as vibrant and eye-catching as possible in order to attract potential consumers. Unfortunately, conventional dyes pose serious environmental hazards; their production generates chemical waste which contaminates bodies of water, disrupts ecosystems, and can even kill animals.
Natural Fabric Colors
Natural colors add a wonderful spectrum of hues to clothing and textiles, often more eco-friendly than synthetic dyes which may contain extracts derived from fossil fuels or petroleum sources.
Natural plant dyes (and some insects) produce an array of shades that can be used to tint yarn, roving and fabric. Not only is dyeing with these ingredients more healthy than chemical ones; it’s also an exciting opportunity to discover all that nature has to offer!
Natural dyes should be applied using cotton or other natural fibers such as silk or wool. Because natural dyes have a shorter shelf life than their synthetic equivalents, be sure to wash finished products with caution after being dyed with natural hues. Natural dyes also offer another advantage over their synthetic counterparts: biodegradability – giving nutrients back into the soil that may benefit future crops.
Natural Paint Colors
Natural paints utilize only a limited selection of ingredients without using petrochemical or synthetic chemicals, including earth and mineral pigments as well as vegetable oil-based binders.
Natural paint colors are extremely long-wearing and versatile. They remain stable under extreme humidity, temperature and light conditions while blocking harmful UV rays – making them the ultimate archival and permanent pigments.
Neutrals make an ideal choice for walls due to their adaptability. Common examples are driftwood, mushroom, smoky or foggy tones found in shades such as tan, taupe, beige, fawn or gray.
Natural paints tend to emit lower VOC levels during painting, which are toxic if inhaled directly. While it’s impossible to find VOC-free products, choosing natural and low-VOC alternatives will reduce your environmental footprint.
