Antioxidants & Pigments Against Shade Drift

Radical scavenger that slows oxidation of oils/sebum interaction implicated in foundation darkening on skin

Stable vitamin E ester that conditions and supports the oil phase (note: as the acetate it is a precursor, so the active in-pack antioxidant load is carried by BHT and ascorbyl palmitate)

Lipid-compatible vitamin C ester that scavenges radicals in the oil phase, supporting shade stability

Binds trace metals that catalyze the oxidation reactions behind oxidative browning

Provides the opacity and base whiteness that define the matched shade

Red iron oxide is the primary warm component of foundation shade blends; with yellow and black oxides it builds the full range of natural skin tones

Yellow iron oxide sets the golden/olive undertone in the canonical red/yellow/black foundation triad used for shade matching

Black iron oxide deepens and gray-balances the blend, setting the depth that makes a foundation shade match accurately