What is D&C Red 30?
D&C Red 30 (INCI name: CI 73360) falls into the colorant category — a cosmetic colorant. A deep red pigment common in blushes and lip colour, frequently flagged in the moderate range.
You may see it on labels as D&C Red 30, D & C Red 30, D&C Red #30, Ci 73360, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where D&C Red 30 shows up
As a cosmetic colorant, D&C Red 30 typically appears in lipsticks, blushes, and other colour cosmetics. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is D&C Red 30 bad for acne-prone skin?
A moderate rating means D&C Red 30 clogs some people and not others. If you're prone to congestion, patch-test a product that features it prominently before committing.
Worth flagging: D&C Red 30's rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers, which is why we show a range rather than a single score — and why your own experience is the best tiebreaker.
Non-comedogenic alternatives
If you're avoiding D&C Red 30, these lower-risk ingredients serve a similar role and are gentler on pore-prone skin:
- Squalane — rated 1/5 (Low risk).
- Niacinamide — rated 0/5 (Low risk).