Red 28 Lake

TL;DR. This ingredient is an insoluble synthetic colorant used to give cosmetics and personal care products a pink to red shade. It is mainly used in makeup, nail products, and other formulas where stable, non-bleeding color is needed.

What does Red 28 Lake do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is an insoluble synthetic colorant used to give cosmetics and personal care products a pink to red shade. It is mainly used in makeup, nail products, and other formulas where stable, non-bleeding color is needed.

Is Red 28 Lake clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because many clean standards restrict synthetic color additives, especially certified colorants. It is regulated for permitted cosmetic uses and batch certification, with impurity limits managed through color-additive rules.

Is Red 28 Lake sustainable?

This material is synthetically produced and typically fixed onto an aluminum-based substrate, so it is not a renewable plant-derived input. It is not readily biodegradable, and colored particulate residues can be persistent in wastewater and sediment systems.

Is Red 28 Lake COSMOS-approved?

It is not permitted under COSMOS organic or COSMOS natural standards because it is a synthetic color additive rather than an allowed mineral or nature-derived pigment. Its Green Chemistry fit is weak due to synthetic halogenated chemistry, limited biodegradability, and reliance on conventional colorant manufacturing.

How does Red 28 Lake work chemically?

This compound is an insoluble pigment form made by fixing a brominated xanthene dye onto an alumina-type substrate, which improves dispersion and reduces bleeding compared with a soluble dye. It is generally used at low color-adjustment levels, with performance driven by particle dispersion, shade strength, light exposure, and compatibility with oils, waxes, powders, or film-forming systems.

Last updated 2026-05-13