Do you use lipstick?
If so, here is something to think about :
The average women applies lipstick from 2 – 14 times every day.
How much lipstick is the average woman ingesting?
As much as 87 milligrams of product a day… every single day for years, even decades.
Something more to think about?
A 2010 FDA study found lead in 400 lipsticks at levels up to 7.19 ppm. A UC Berkley 2013 study went on to find more chemicals of concern in common lipsticks. In addition to lead, they found cadmium, chromium, aluminum and titanium.
If you are a daily user of lipstick you might want to think twice before you use it again today – especially if you are pregnant since these heavy metals (especially lead) can be particularly bad for the developing fetus. Some studies have found (obviously, depending on the lipstick) that in some cases women who slathered lipstick on 14 times a day or more were meeting or surpassing the daily recommended exposure to chromium, aluminum, and manganese.
Should you care? Yes!
If the lipstick you use every day contains nasty chemicals these chemicals can build up in your body over time. And exposure to a little bit of a toxic chemical over a long period of time can add up to harm.
- Lead is a known neurotoxin. No levels of lead are considered to be safe for children. In adults it can lead to multiple maladies from miscarriages to seizures.
- Chromium is a carcinogen that has been found in breast cancer biopsies and shown to cause cancer cells to multiply in lab experiments.
- Aluminum targets your central nervous system. Studies show that toxic metals contribute to brain diseases and many believe there is a link with Alzheimers Disease.
As I mentioned, the amounts on any given ‘dose’ of lipstick is small. The cumulative effects of constant use is what could be worrisome.
The good news? You don’t have to give up using lipstick! There are steps you can take to make sure you aren’t ingesting toxic chemicals every single day:
Tips:
1. Buy safe lipstick – YES, non-toxic lipsticks exist and they are actually pretty good. Amongst my favorite brands :
- Beautycounter: I use their Twig color everyday. Their Scarlet is a nice red, although I find it needs a lipliner, otherwise it does not last.
- Ilia: They have a wonderful selection of colors. I have the ILIA Beauty Lip Conditioner – Nobody’s Baby (Nude)
and use it frequently combined with a gloss.
- Juice Beauty Lip Gloss: I use this lip gloss (Beautycounter has one I really like too) Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss.
2. Use less lipstick – If you have a favorite shade you simply cannot live without, save it for special occasions instead of daily use.
3. Don’t let kids play with toxic lipstick – They are more susceptible to the toxic effects of lead and other chemicals found in lipstick.
Is your current lipstick safe? Look it up on one of these two databases and find out!