Database/Hair Dyeing/Acid Red 27 Aluminum Lake
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Acid Red 27 Aluminum Lake natural?

Mostly. Alumina substrate, aluminium and sulfonate groups are mineral; the azo-naphthalene skeleton comes from petrochemical or coal-tar naphthalene.

INCI nameAcid Red 27 Aluminum Lake
CAS12227-62-2
FunctionHair Dyeing
FeedstockNaphthionic acid and R-salt from coal-tar or petroleum…

How we scored it

Dye Al salt C20H11N2O10S3Al 562.5 Da: 3 SO3 240.2 + Al 27.0 = 267.2 natural = 0.475. Lake assumed 25% dye on alumina substrate: 0.75 + 0.25 x 0.475 = 0.87.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Naphthionic acid and R-salt from coal-tar or petroleum naphthalene are diazo-coupled to give the dye, which is precipitated with aluminium salts onto alumina hydrate. Dye loading is not stated, so 25% was assumed.

In plain English

A red pigment: the aluminium form of the azo dye Acid Red 27 (amaranth), spread on an alumina base so it does not dissolve. Used in hair colour products. The dye is built from petroleum- or coal-tar-derived naphthalene; the aluminium and base are mineral.

CosIng definition: Acid Red 27 Aluminum Lake is an insoluble pigment composed of the aluminum salt of Acid Red 27 extended on an appropriate substrate. It conforms to the formula:

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References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2ACID RED 27 ALUMINUM LAKE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3ACID RED 27 ALUMINUM LAKE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ACID%20RED%2027%20ALUMINUM%20LAKE