Lovely Lips, Lipstick and Toxic Kiss !

Lovely Lips, Lipstick and Toxic Kiss !
 
Lipstick and glosses have considered as women’s beauty product. However, women who apply two-three or more times daily can ingest it. New research study results show many lipsticks and glosses may contain potentially high level of toxic metals. It could also make them and their partner sick. Some precautions can keep you away from these toxic metals.

In our previous post “Tips to Care Dry and Chapped Lips” published on January 10, 2015, we have written, how to care chapped lips. In continuation of that here is another post in curing your health from lips makeover.

Mostly lipsticks have toxic metal that gave attractive color to lipsticks. But exposure of high level of toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, antimony, arsenic, chromium, aluminum, manganese, murcurry and other are consider giving you health risk. The metals are part of pigments and base materials used to make the products. Because the metals are not ingredients, therefore cosmetics companies are not required to list them on products' ingredient labels.

All lipsticks contain detectable levels of lead or other heavy metals. Single use of lipstick on lips will not lead to harm. But the problem is when women who apply lipstick two to 14 or more time a day. They are ingesting and absorbing through their lips as much as around 85 – 90 milligrams of product a day, the study says.

Toxic metals and their risk:

1. Lead (Pb): It is a neurotoxic. Its exposure causes miscarriage and seizures in adults and brain damage in children. There is no safe level of lead in blood.

2. Cadmium (Cd): It is a human carcinogenic that has been found in breast cancer biopsies.

3. Antimony (Sb): It affect on cardiovascular system, the liver and the lung.

4. Arsenic (As): It is linked to the various cancers such as bladder, liver and lung.

5. Chromium (Cr): It is connected with stomach tumor.

6. Manganese (Mn): It is linked to neurotoxin problems.

7. Mercury (Hg): It can cause allergic reactions. It weakens nervous system, kidney function and memory loss.

Precaution: 
1. All the consumers must take precautions to protect themselves from heavy metal exposure from lip products.
2. Use less amount and less times lipstick and glosses. If you find yourself reapplying lipstick 14 times a day, consider cutting back.
3. Keep away our lip products from your children. Don't let children use lipstick, as their young bodies are especially vulnerable to toxic metals.
4. Try to avoid lip kissing your partner with your lipstick. It could be harmful for both of you.
5. Share this information with your family friend and children to make sure that by the time your children have grown up, we have solved the problem of toxic chemicals in cosmetics.

References:

1. Concentrations and Potential Health Risks of Metals in Lip Products, Sa Liu, S. Katharine Hammond, and Ann Rojas-Cheatham, 2013, 121(6), 705-710. Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/ehp.1205518
2. Cosmetic Safety: http://schakowsky.house.gov/cosmetic-safety/