What are lake dyes?

Lake dyes are synthetic colors made by bonding artificial dyes to a metallic salt. They are widely used in cosmetics because they are cheap and easy to work with. You will find them listed as names like Red 40 Lake or Yellow 5 Lake. They do the job, but we did not feel comfortable making them part of ours.

Why we don't use them

Our customers care deeply about what goes on their skin, and so do we. Some lake dyes have been linked to skin irritation and sensitization, and certain synthetic dyes used to make them have raised concerns around toxicity with prolonged exposure. While many are considered safe within regulated limits, we believe there is no reason to include them when better, cleaner alternatives exist. Rather than relying on them for color, we chose a different path from the start.

What we use instead

Our products are coloured with micas and mineral pigments, including iron oxides, ultramarines, and other cosmetic-grade minerals that have been used safely for generations. They are stable, skin-kind, and deliver beautiful, true color without the need for synthetic dye chemistry.

Where we are headed next

We hear you. Some of our micas contain trace amounts of titanium dioxide, and we know this matters to many of you. We are currently in the research phase of finding natural pigment alternatives that can replace those micas, so we can go even further in giving you a formula you feel fully confident in.

We are not there yet, but we are working on it. We would rather take the time to get it right than rush something that does not meet the standard you and we expect.