What’s in Your Lipstick?
Most women can’t live without their lipstick; it is a vital part of a lady’s make-up
bag and her choice of shade serves to accentuate her look. There is a colour for
every occasion and every complexion, and whether your favourite is poppy red, neutral
peach or rich plum, it is likely to be on your lips every day when you leave the
house.
But have you ever given any thought to what goes into your lipstick? As it is on
your lips so much of the time, you are likely to ingest at least some of it into
your body. In fact, research suggests that the average woman will consume at least
4lbs of lipstick over their lipstick-wearing lifetime.
Unfortunately there are some very commonly used ingredients used in cosmetics that
you probably would not want to ingest. Did you know that lipsticks can contain crushed
beetles? If you can find reference to ‘Carmine’, ‘Cochineal’ or CI 75470 in your
lipstick ingredients, then yours does indeed have beetle shells in it.
Crushed insects
Carmine is usually created by boiling dried cochineal insects in water, filtering
the hard matter and then treating the solution with alum. It takes 70,000 insects
to make one pound of cochineal dye!
Beetle shell may seem to be an unusual ingredient for lipsticks but it is an effective
red pigment which is used in a range of cosmetics. As well as lipsticks, it is found
in make-up base, nail polishes and some baby products. Outside of the cosmetics
world, it is also used as a food dye, and is sometimes found in such foods as ice
cream, strawberry milk and fruit juices.
However, crushed insect shells are not the only undesirable ingredient that you
might find in your lipstick. Research from 2004 shows that as many as 28% of lipsticks
contain suspected carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
Coal tars and artificial colours
There are a number of ingredients commonly used in lipsticks that are thought to
have carcinogenic properties. Many of these ingredients are the colourants used
to achieve the huge variety of shades that lipsticks come in.
Coal tar derivatives are used to create a range of colours which may be pleasing
to the eye but may not be so good for your health. Some coal tar colours have already
been banned and almost all have been found to cause cancer in animals. In addition,
they are very common sources of allergic reactions in some people, causing skin
rashes and hives.
Artificial colours may be problematic in lipsticks as many have not been tested
for carcinogenicity and, like coal tar dyes, can cause allergic reactions.
The following are colours which are recommended to avoid: CI 45425, Brilliant Blue
FD&C (CI 42090), Acid Yellow 23 (CI 19140) and Sunset Yellow (CI 15985). However,
there are so many questions hanging over synthetic and coal tar colours that it
is certainly not exhaustive.
Natural and organic lipsticks: non-toxic beauty
If you are concerned about the content of your lipstick, don’t worry; there are
safer alternatives out there. Choose a natural and organic lipstick without coal
tar derivatives, artificial colours or crushed insects and you can still enjoy your
look, without worrying about what you are applying to your lips.
Green People is a pioneer in the field of natural make-up, being the first ever
company to produce certified organic lipsticks. Containing nature’s own nourishing
herbs and plant oils our lipsticks soothe and protect your lips to leave them shimmering
and soft.
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Eco Lipstick - Cherry
Nourishing lip protection,
natural colours derived from earth minerals
J004 4.5g £10.99
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As well as natural lipsticks, we also have a whole range of certified organic mineral
make up.
See our mineral make-up now.