Facts About Hidden Lipstick Ingredients

Makeup – many of us love it – but most of us have no idea that some of our favorite beauty products contain harsh chemicals and potentially harmful ingredients.

We chose Allure Magazine's 2009 Reader's Choice top pick— Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick — and dug a little deeper to find out more about some of its multi-syllabic ingredients (ingredients that you can't even find on the product's packaging).

We searched the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Database – a great online resource that lists the chemical ingredients of thousands of products, and highlighted a few of the worst on the list. Be aware that even the Environmental Working Group cautions against jumping to conclusions about the health threat posed by each ingredient: "Research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility."

We're not trying to call Revlon out – plenty of makeup brands use the same chemicals in their products. We do want to give you an example of what you might be slathering on your lips. Check out some of the ingredients in this lipstick – they’ll have you thinking twice about what you put on your pout.

Hidden Lipstick Ingredients

Methylparaben is a preservative used in many beauty products ... at least in the U.S. Use of these chemicals is restricted in the European Union because they've been linked to cancer, may disrupt the endocrine system, or be toxic in other ways. The Cosmetics Database labels them a "high hazard."

Propylparaben is a frequently used cosmetics ingredient that can irritate skin and eyes or cause reactions in those who are allergic. Some studies have also raised concerns about endocrine disruption, cancer and other toxic effects. It is rated a "moderate hazard" by the Cosmetics Database.

Retinyl Palmitate is a synthetic form of vitamin A that may be toxic to pregnant women. It is rated a "moderate hazard" by the Cosmetics Database because limited evidence links exposure to a range of health problems, from cancer to reproductive effects.

Colorants, such as D&C Red 36 (rated "low hazard"), and D&C Red 22 Aluminum Lake (rated "moderate hazard") are typically tested on animals, and have raised concerns because some research has linked exposure to nervous system damage and other health concerns.

Tocopheryl Acetate, also known as vitamin E acetate, is used in a variety of products, including lipstick, moisturizer and foundation. The Cosmetics Database rates it as a "moderate hazard" because it may cause itching, burning, scaling, hives and skin blistering, and may be toxic.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/lipstick-ingredients-020410#ixzz1k6vwrCWx

LEAD IN LIPSTICK?: TOXIC CHEMICALS IN THIS COSMETIC PRODUCT

Would you believe that the lipstick you use everyday contains three times the amount of lead that the FDA allows in candy? It could, according to tests conducted by consumer health groups. Here learn more about the toxic chemicals often used in lipstick, and what you can do to avoid them.

Written by Monica Wesley, Green Health Research Contributor

Dangerous Chemicals Used in Lipstick

Several different dangerous chemicals are used in many, but not all, lipstick and lip gloss products sold in the United States. While the levels of these hazardous chemicals vary and are sometimes very low, any amount of these chemicals in lip products can be unsafe because every time you lick your lips or eat or drink while wearing a lip product you ingest a small amount of the product allowing the chemicals to enter your body. Additionally, lip products are absorbed by the thin delicate lip tissue, so even if you don’t directly ingest the product it can be absorbed through your skin and enter your body this way.

Lead

In a study conducted by the non-profit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, lead was found in 20 of the 33 randomly chosen lipsticks the group purchased in four different U.S. cities. The lipsticks were tested for lead by an independent lab, which found the highest lead levels in lipsticks made by L’Oreal, Cover Girl, and designer brand Christian Dior. This is extremely dangerous because lead is a known neurotoxin which can cause infertility, miscarriage, learning disabilities in those exposed to lead, and birth defects in children whose mothers are exposed to lead while pregnant.

Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol is used in lip products because it’s a humectant, meaning it seals in moisture to keep lips moist. Propylene glycol is also one of the main components of anti-freeze. That’s right, the anti-freeze you use in your car and can’t store around children or pets because its sweet taste makes it irresistible but belies its lethal effects. Propylene glycol can cause liver and kidney damage, and when in the body can even alter normal brain waves making them resemble the brain waves of people who have severe anxiety disorders.

FD& C Dyes and Lakes

FD& C dyes and lakes are used by many companies to give makeup products, including lipstick and lip glosses, their color. However, they are also common allergens, and can be very irritating to the skin. Some FD& C colors have even been shown to cause severe allergic reactions such as asthma attacks and FD& C Red No. 3 will cause breast cancer to form when it’s placed in a petrie dish with healthy breast tissue.