Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Color and makeup Using Squid Ink In Bathbombs

  • Using Squid Ink In Bathbombs

    Posted by Anonymous on September 24, 2018 at 6:01 pm

    Hi, I looking for a natural black colorant (beyond iron oxide and charcoal..cause they stain in the tub) to use in color a bath bomb black. 

    I thought of using squid ink. Anyone have any recommendation on using squid ink? I would imagine it needs some type of preservative than just using it out the jar. Need some direction or guidance. 

    Duncan replied 6 years, 2 months ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • EVchem

    Member
    September 24, 2018 at 6:36 pm

    So first off if you use the phrase “natural colorant” someone here is going to post the FDA’s list of approved colorants (it’s me this time I guess), which are the only colorants you are allowed to use to ~intentionally~ color a product. 

    So say you are adding the squid ink for claims purposes; the second issue I see is sourcing. How are you going to find squid ink with good lot to lot consistency?  On UL prospector I see only one material with squid ink and the SDS describes it as a brown liquid, which I doubt is the color you are going for. Additionally, I’m not experienced in bath bombs but shouldn’t your ingredients all come in powdered form or will require some drying? Not sure how that would affect squid ink.

  • Duncan

    Member
    September 24, 2018 at 8:26 pm

    Plus points: Natural, very strong colour
    Minus points: Smells unpleasant, stains everything in sight. Only thing that will remove it is hypochlorite bleach

    (Had to help a squid processing plant with cleaning - bleach is the only thing that shifts it!)

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