Red 6 Lake/Ci 15850 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic lake colorant used to give red to orange-red shade in makeup, lip products, and some personal care formulas. Its insoluble pigment form helps provide opacity, color payoff, and reduced bleeding compared with soluble dyes.
What does Red 6 Lake/Ci 15850 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a synthetic lake colorant used to give red to orange-red shade in makeup, lip products, and some personal care formulas. Its insoluble pigment form helps provide opacity, color payoff, and reduced bleeding compared with soluble dyes.
Is Red 6 Lake/Ci 15850 clean?
This ingredient is a regulated synthetic colorant, but many clean-beauty frameworks and retailer standards flag or exclude synthetic lakes and certain color additives. Skin irritation is generally low at cosmetic use levels, with the main scrutiny focused on trace impurities, batch certification, and regulatory compliance.
Is Red 6 Lake/Ci 15850 sustainable?
It is made from petrochemical aromatic feedstocks and converted into an insoluble lake pigment with inorganic salts. It is not readily biodegradable and can persist as particulate color in wastewater solids, although use levels are typically low.
Is Red 6 Lake/Ci 15850 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS natural or organic products because it is a synthetic organic colorant rather than an approved mineral or natural-origin colorant. From a Green Chemistry lens, the petrochemical feedstocks, azo synthesis, and limited biodegradability make it a weak fit, despite low-dose use.
How does Red 6 Lake/Ci 15850 work chemically?
The molecule is an azo dye rendered as an insoluble lake by precipitation with metal salts, which improves bleed resistance versus the soluble dye form. It is typically used at low shade-adjustment levels, is generally stable to heat and normal cosmetic pH, and needs thorough dispersion for even color and payoff.
Last updated 2026-05-13