Natural Pigment-Based Herbal Lipsticks: Formulation, Physicochemical Evaluation, and Stability Analysis

The rising awareness of the harmful effects of synthetic cosmetics has sparked interest in herbal alternatives. This study focuses on creating and testing herbal lipsticks using natural pigments from Beta vulgaris (beetroot), Hylocereus undatus (dragon fruit), and Theobroma cacao (cocoa powder). The goal was to make a safe, non-toxic, and skin-friendly lipstick using herbal ingredients and to assess their physical, chemical, and stability characteristics. We prepared ten formulations with different concentrations of natural pigments. We also used natural base ingredients like beeswax, castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil, vitamin E, and jasmine oil. We obtained the herbal extracts through straightforward aqueous and mechanical extraction methods. We evaluated the lipsticks based on melting point, pH, color, breaking point, application force, surface flaws, aging stability, skin irritation, and perfume stability. Among all formulations, F-10, which included 3 g of cocoa powder, showed the best features. It had a stable texture, good melting point, excellent spreadability, attractive color, and caused no skin irritation or microbial growth. The results indicated that natural pigments can effectively replace synthetic dyes while maintaining product quality and safety. In conclusion, herbal lipsticks made with natural colorants offer a safer option than synthetic products, with F-10 (cocoa-based) standing out as the best formulation. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm long-term safety and consumer acceptance.