We have used small percentages of synthetics in some our products from the very beginning and are very open and transparent about why. Food Grade dye is a synthetic form of color and is derived from the same source as Dimethicone. The choice to use Food Grade Dye was preferred over the use of Carmine (crushed beetle skin) when formulating certain lip colors in order to obtain a stronger hue. The majority of the product is made up of natural mineral dyes, yet some do contain low percentages (2% or less) of food grade. There are hidden dangers throughout the industry and many of the natural mineral dyes are harvested by children in India who are treated very poorly. For ILIA it is important to understand the complete picture and make a choice on what we choose to support and why.