Question on Color Matching for Color Cosmetics

Skylark

I haven't found much talk on color matching, but I've noticed that some contract labs are able to use pantone colors as a benchmark for new products. Are there tools or formulas we can use to formulate color from available organic and inorganic pigments or is it really just trial and error, still? Also, how do you maintain color consistency when there are natural variations in a lot inorganic pigments? (I have 5 shades of ultramarine right now...)

JonahRay

When I was in school, a few of my colleagues had co-op positions as 'colour matchers' where they had to test each batch against the benchmark and then suggest changes based on the observed difference. Due to variation like you said, the formula has to be adjusted slightly with each batch.

Herbnerd

Sure you can - but it does take a practiced eye to discern the ingredients that make up that colour - especially if you are starting from scratch with a pantone colour chart.

It is interesting working with someone who works with colours and doing colour matching that they can look at a red colour and determine whether it red with a bit of yellow added to it, or a bit of blue, black, white etc. If you feel you can do this, go ahead.

When colour matching creams and the like, (and I'm by no means an expert at this) I tend to make up solutions of the dyes in say, 1% solutions and 0.1% solutions. Once you know what you need to add to get the right shade then you can calculate what you actually need to add.

EVchem

I follow a similar method to Herbnerds matching basics, but I've found the percentage can get close but may always need some minor adjusting. We do use pantone colors to match but even that can have many variables (light source/direction, opacity of the product  could affect the sample size needed)