While using minoxidil, we noticed something interesting that naturally led us to ask: Why does the color of minoxidil vary from completely colorless to bright orange, and sometimes even with a brownish tint? As ordinary users, we didn’t go out of our way to investigate this, but once we created the Minoxon brand and began manufacturing our own product, we had no choice but to get to the bottom of this issue.
The normal color of minoxidil
According to lotion manufacturers, the colour of minoxidil is considered normal when it ranges from clear and colourless to yellow or orange. This is indeed the case. When purchasing genuine Kirkland minoxidil from a trusted seller, it was noted that the colour did vary depending on the batch. Most often, the minoxidil had a slight yellowish tint, but it was also sometimes nearly clear and colourless. This variation had no effect on the product’s effectiveness.
Why does the color change?
Here's another interesting question. Based on our experience, we can conclude that the fresher the lotion, the less colour it has.
In the photo on the right, the lotion is only 1 week fresher, but even in such a short time, you can see the difference:
A photo of a brand-new lotion that's only 3 days old. As you can see, it's practically colorless:
And here's a photo of the "old" minoxidil, which is 3 months old:
Of course, we can’t really talk about such minoxidil “aging,” since the lotion has a shelf life of 2 years, but the difference in color is obvious. However, it’s worth noting that even fresh batches of the lotion can begin to change color a few weeks after production, so the color of the finished product is influenced not only by the freshness of the batch but also by other factors, the most common of these is the presence of residual impurities during the synthesis of minoxidil: minoxidil itself (the active ingredient) is synthesized through a series of complex chemical reactions. Fresh raw materials always contain a tiny percentage of byproducts of synthesis (such as N-oxides or pyrimidine derivatives). These impurities are colorless on their own, but they are significantly more sensitive to oxygen (which is present in the solution anyway) than the main minoxidil molecule. If a particular batch of raw material contains even a slightly higher amount of these impurities (as little as 0.1%), they oxidize first, causing the product to take on a bright yellow tint within just a few weeks. The good news is that the product’s color change does not affect its effectiveness. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Secondary factors include:
- storage conditions (temperature, lighting);
- the presence of additional components (usually acids);
The inclusion of acid (azelaic or citric) in the formula causes the pigment to fade, which is why 10% and 15% lotions, those containing azelaic acid, despite having double or triple the concentration of minoxidil, begin to change color much more slowly than 5% or 2% solution without azelaic acid. A similar situation can be observed with the 5% Black Edition product, which contains azelaic and nicotinic acids. Even after 3 months, the product had not changed color:
At certain concentrations, azelaic acid imparts a slight yellowish tint; this is why 10% and 15% minoxidil, which contains this acid, usually has a slight color.
How can I verify that Minoxidil is genuine?
Of course, at home, without special equipment, it’s impossible to analyze the product and determine its exact composition. But there are two signs that indicate the presence of minoxidil in the formula. We won’t go into detail about how to spot a counterfeit using a specific brand as an example. These indicators of genuine minoxidil apply to any manufacturer. They are the color and, surprisingly, the taste (don’t even think about drinking it).
Minoxidil can range in color from colorless to bright orange. However, this characteristic allows you to verify once again that the product is genuine and that it actually contains minoxidil.
Another characteristic of minoxidil is its bitter aftertaste (anyone who’s applied it to their mustache knows this). And, just like with color, the product becomes more bitter over time. Products containing acids (azelaic, nicotinic, citric) naturally have a sour-bitter aftertaste.
However, the best guarantee is to buy from a trusted, reputable seller.