The red pigment made from crushed cochineal insects and used in cosmetics is carmine.
Carmine is produced from carminic acid obtained mainly from dried female cochineal insects, scientifically known as Dactylopius coccus. The insects live on prickly-pear cacti, especially Opuntia species. Their red pigment helps deter predators, but humans have harvested it for dye for centuries.
American civilizations used cochineal to color textiles before European contact, and the dye became a major export to Europe in the 16th century. Spanish-controlled cochineal production became enormously valuable; by weight, the product was once more valuable than sugar. Traditional preparation involves drying and pulverizing the insects, extracting the pigment, and treating it with salts such as alum to form the carmine colorant.
Carmine is found in lipstick, blush, eye shadow, nail polish, and other products. It is also called Natural Red 4 and is listed as E120 in the European Union. Carmine, cochineal extract, and carminic acid are related but not identical terms: carminic acid is the key dye molecule, while carmine is the prepared pigment. Unlike ultramarine or iron oxide, carmine is animal-derived and may be unsuitable for vegan consumers.