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Ultramarine Blue

What Ultramarine Blue is & what it does

Ultramarine Blue is a synthetic mineral pigment, a complex sodium aluminum sulfosilicate, used to impart blue, violet, or pink shades. In cosmetics and some sunscreen formulas it serves purely as a colorant, helping to tint the product or visually offset yellow tones. A notable property is its good stability and resistance to light, which keeps the color consistent over time.

Is Ultramarine Blue safe?

Ultramarine Blue is an approved cosmetic colorant with a long record of use and is generally considered safe in cosmetic products. It is a synthetic mineral pigment that stays on the skin surface rather than being absorbed. As with any colorant, it should be used within the permitted levels set by cosmetic regulations.

What does Ultramarine Blue do in skincare?

Ultramarine Blue acts purely as a colorant. In cosmetics and some sunscreen formulas it imparts blue, violet, or pink shades, and it can be used to visually offset unwanted yellow tones. It does not provide any active skincare benefit on its own.

Is Ultramarine Blue natural or synthetic?

Cosmetic Ultramarine Blue is synthetic. Although a natural mineral form exists, the pigment used in cosmetics is manufactured under controlled conditions to ensure purity and consistent color, which makes it more reliable than the mined version.

Sunscreens with Ultramarine Blue

We rate 45 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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