D&C Red 27 Lake, Cosmetic Grade Pigment

Technical Specifications

Key Characteristics

High tinting strength: D&C Red 27 Lake carries a strong color load relative to use level, which means formulators can achieve deep, saturated red-pink tones at moderate inclusion rates. This is particularly useful in lip color and nail lacquer where color intensity and coverage are primary specifications.

Lake vs. dye — why it matters for formulation: Unlike the soluble dye form (D&C Red 27), the lake version is insoluble. It does not migrate through wax or oil matrices, which makes it the appropriate choice for anhydrous formulations — lip balms, wax-based lip crayons, pressed powders — where dye bleeding would compromise the finished product's appearance or stability.

Matte texture contribution: In nail lacquer, D&C Red 27 Lake contributes to a matte surface finish. Formulators working on matte nail products use lake pigments partly for their texture-modifying properties alongside the color they provide. The alumina substrate adds a degree of physical matteness to the dried film.

Blend compatibility: D&C Red 27 Lake blends with other D&C and cosmetic-grade pigments to adjust hue. Adding white (e.g., titanium dioxide) produces a range of pinks; combining with a blue or violet lake shifts toward a cooler, more muted red. It also functions as a depth-building addition to formulas where the base color needs intensification without altering the existing effect.

Heavy metal impurity control: Cosmetic-grade D&C lakes are manufactured with filtration steps to remove regulated impurities including arsenic, lead, mercury, and antimony to levels compliant with cosmetic use requirements. Kolortek supplies documentation on impurity levels upon request for supplier qualification and formulation compliance purposes.

Application Contexts

Note on eye-area use: D&C Red 27 is not approved for use in the area of the eye under FDA regulations. Formulators developing eye shadow or eyeliner for the US market should verify the approved colorant list for eye-area products before specifying this pigment. EU and other market regulations may differ — confirm with your regulatory team.

Position Within Kolortek's Cosmetic Range

D&C Red 27 Lake belongs to Kolortek's Cosmetic Matte Pigment series — a range of D&C-listed lake pigments supplied alongside effect pigments including pearlescents, holographics, and cosmetic mica blends. For formulators sourcing both flat color and special-effect components from a single supplier, the D&C Lakes series covers the matte color foundation that underlies most cosmetic color formulations. Kolortek's 20+ years in effect pigment manufacturing translates to consistent substrate quality and batch-to-batch color reproducibility across the cosmetic range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between D&C Red 27 and D&C Red 27 Lake?
A: D&C Red 27 is a soluble xanthene dye that dissolves in certain solvents and can migrate through lipid-based formulations. D&C Red 27 Lake is the insoluble form — the dye is precipitated onto an alumina substrate, making it a dispersible pigment that will not bleed through wax, oil, or powder matrices. For most solid and anhydrous cosmetic applications, the lake form is the correct specification.

Q: Is D&C Red 27 Lake approved for lip use?
A: Under FDA regulations, D&C Red 27 Lake is approved for use in lip products. Formulators should verify current approved use categories on the FDA color additive list for their specific product type. For EU and other markets, consult Annex IV of the EU Cosmetics Regulation or the relevant local framework — approval status and use conditions vary by jurisdiction.

Q: Can D&C Red 27 Lake be used in nail products?
A: Yes. It is widely used in nail lacquer, particularly in matte finish formulations where the lake pigment contributes both color and texture to the dried film. It is compatible with standard nitrocellulose-based and waterborne nail lacquer systems. Contact us for dispersion guidance specific to your base system.

Q: What documentation can Kolortek provide for supplier qualification?
A: Technical data sheets (TDS), safety data sheets (SDS), and Certificates of Analysis documenting heavy metal impurity levels are available on request. If you require additional documentation for a specific regulatory submission, contact the technical team to discuss what is available.

Q: How does D&C Red 27 Lake behave in pressed powder formulations?
A: As an insoluble pigment, it blends uniformly with talc, mica, and other powder fillers used in pressed blush and eyeshadow. It does not recrystallize or migrate during storage. Loading levels for pressed powder typically range from 1–15% depending on the desired color depth, but optimal levels are formulation-dependent — request a sample to run your own trials.

Request a Sample or Technical Documentation

Whether you are qualifying a new supplier for an existing formula or developing a new color line, the most direct path is to evaluate the pigment in your own system. Contact Kolortek to request a sample of D&C Red 27 Lake, along with TDS, SDS, and Certificate of Analysis documentation for your supplier qualification process.