Black Cosmetics Without Toxic Baggage
By Ryan Cheng, Chief Revenue Officer, Nature Coatings
Every cosmetics brand and manufacturer we talk to about our BioBlack Beauty line wants a high-performance black pigment that doesn’t rely on fossil carbon. They need a breakthrough, nontoxic, non-nano, low-emissions ingredient that satisfies demands from marketing, compliance, manufacturing and consumers. And while it might seem easier to stick with carbon black in the short term, they understand that its health, safety, and regulatory baggage is suddenly impossible to ignore.
At the core of our work is one belief: consumers shouldn’t have to choose between performance and safety. As our CEO Jane Palmer often says, “Given a choice, nobody wants a toxic oil slick on their face.” BioBlack was created to make tradeoffs unnecessary. Here’s what our experience has been working with partners from initial interest to commercial adoption.
Formulators tend to start cautiously. In side by side comparisons with carbon black, they run drawdowns, test gloss, opacity, and particle uniformity. That’s about when they discover something interesting — BioBlack holds up better than expected. Performance is there. Dispersions are clean. And for the first time they realize that, yes, you can keep that deep black without the toxins and emissions.
The question then becomes, which BioBlack? Beauty BX is a 30% pigment-load dispersion for mascaras and liquid eyeliners, offering the same opacity and visual depth with less dosage. Beauty 13 is a fine charcoal powder engineered for cleansers, masks, and soaps, providing exceptional surface area for detoxifying and purifying formulations. Both integrate into standard workflows and maintain stability during manufacturing – all while eliminating emissions, and toxins like PFAS, VOCs, and PAHs. Now we’re getting somewhere!
BioBlack Beauty grades are nontoxic and they’re also China NMPA-compliant, as well as EU REACH, and with U.S. cosmetic regulations. They also align with retailer standards like Clean at Sephora, Clean at Amazon, and Clean at Walmart. Our pigments are the first and only (so far) black for cosmetics certified by the USDA BioPreferred® Program as 100% biobased. All this is why BioBlack Beauty 13 won the Cosmetics & Toiletries Allē Award.
As we’ve learned along the way, every customer has unique needs. Some of their formulations rely on non-aqueous systems, others on water-based dispersions. It’s why we expanded our platform with BioBlack Blends, a diversified dispersion technology platform that opens new possibilities for formulators looking to easily integrate BioBlack in pencils, pressed powders, and hybrid systems — products where long wear and ultra-black are essential.
By the time a new ingredient is approved internally, the product roadmap is already set. Having established BioBlack Beauty as the best replacement for carbon black, brands and partners often begin to plan the launch of new products 18 to 24 months in advance.
As I often tell partners: our job isn’t just to sell pigment — it’s to make your transition effortless. Cosmetics is a show-and-tell industry. People need to touch, test, and see results before they switch, so we make that process as frictionless as possible. That’s why we focus on partnerships early. We provide starter formulations, demo kits, and stability data so that when a window opens, development teams are ready to make progress.
In conversations with global partners, from formulation chemists to sustainability directors, there is no doubt times are changing. Brands want measurable data, verified compliance, and a partner that can scale. That’s what BioBlack provides — clean chemistry that performs, backed by full supply-chain transparency.
And for those still wondering if BioBlack Beauty really works in the market — yes it does. That’s the story we’re helping more brands write every day — cleaner formulations, verified performance, and black color that’s finally as modern as the industry it serves.
Frequently Asked Questions About BioBlack Beauty
-
BioBlack Beauty is a line of 100% bio-based, carbon-negative black pigments made from FSC-certified wood waste. It provides a clean, high-performance alternative to fossil-based carbon black for color cosmetics and personal care.
-
BioBlack Beauty BX is formulated for mascaras and liquid eyeliners, while BioBlack Beauty 13 is ideal for cleansing and skincare products like masks, soaps, and body washes. BioBlack Blends is our platform for developing tailor made pigments and dispersions to fit just about any application.
-
BioBlack Beauty delivers rich, deep black tones and exceptional color payoff—comparable to or exceeding conventional carbon black—while remaining non-nanomaterial and bio-based.
-
Yes. BioBlack Beauty meets cosmetic regulations in China (NMPA, IECIC), the EU (REACH), and the U.S., ensuring brands can scale globally with confidence.
-
Yes. BioBlack pigments are 100% bio-based, non-nanomaterial, cruelty-free, and vegan.
-
Pretty Smart Cosmetics was among the first to adopt BioBlack pigments in its products—proof that clean innovation can match traditional performance standards.
-
BioBlack Blends extends the pigment into non-aqueous systems, such as oil- and silicone-based formulations, enabling its use in pencils, powders, and hybrid applications.
-
BioBlack is carbon-negative, produced using renewable wood waste, and free from PFAS, VOCs, and fossil carbon. It allows brands to reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining superior performance.
-
Visit the BioBlack Beauty page or contact Nature Coatings for technical data sheets, samples, or formulation support.