Ingredient decoder

D&C Red 6 / Red 7: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Red 6

Acne verdict Watch

Worth watching on acne-prone skin

  • Comedogenic1 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Red colorant used in makeup, flagged for clogging pores.

  • Cosmetic colorant

D&C Red 6 / Red 7 in plain English

D&C Red 6 / Red 7 is a synthetic red colorant used in makeup such as blush and lip color. Several D&C red dyes produced comedones in old rabbit-ear tests of the raw colorant, which is why they rate high on classic lists. Real-world risk from the small amounts in makeup is less clear, but if your breakouts cluster where you wear blush or lip color, it is worth noticing. In Fulton's 1989 retest it scored only 1 out of 5, so we list it to watch rather than as a pore-clogger.

Is D&C Red 6 / Red 7 bad for acne?

Not usually, but it is worth watching. D&C Red 6 / Red 7 is not a proven pore-clogger, but it is flagged for acne-prone skin for the reason below. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 1 out of 5 for clogging pores and 0 out of 5 for irritation. Notice how your skin reacts when a product lists it near the top.

Why it is flagged: D&C red dyes were comedogenic in rabbit-ear testing. Common in blush and lip color.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Red 6
  • D c red 6
  • D c red 7
  • Red 7
  • Ci 15850
  • D&c red no. 6
  • D&c red no. 7
  • D&c red 6
  • D&c red 7
  • Red 6 lake
  • Red 7 lake
  • D&c red 6 barium lake
  • D&c red 7 calcium lake
  • Lithol rubine b

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Frequently asked questions

Is D&C Red 6 / Red 7 comedogenic?

D&C Red 6 / Red 7 scored 1 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does D&C Red 6 / Red 7 do in skincare?

In short: red colorant used in makeup, flagged for clogging pores. In formulas it is used for cosmetic colorant.

What else is D&C Red 6 / Red 7 called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, D&C Red 6 / Red 7 can also appear as Red 6, D c red 6, D c red 7, Red 7 or Ci 15850.

Sources