Lake colors make for the most commonly used coloring agents used in a host of industries. They are comparitively inert absorption compounds and therefore are highly versatile and adaptable. They are oil-soluble and can be mixed in vegetable oils, fats, other cosmetic oils etc. They can also be dispersed in suspension of propylene glycol or sucrose.

Owing to their good soluble properties, lake colors can be employed to color an infinite variety of products. They are more stable than water-soluble colors and hence widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals