IT IS not entirely a new story that beauty products contain chemicals that could harm users. A ten-year-old study by the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has found lead in 61 percent of red lipsticks.
The FDA (of USA) had two follow-up studies in 2009 and in 2012 and both studies found much more lead, up to 7.19 parts per million, in the lipstick samples tested.
The top 20 lead-containing lipsticks from the FDA's 2012 review of 400 lipstick shades included: Maybelline Color Sensational Pink Petal, L’Oreal Colour Riche—Volcanic, NARS Semi-matte-Red Lizard, Cover Girl-Ruby Remix, Nars Semi-matte-Funny Face, L’Oreal Colour Riche-Tickled Pink, L’Oreal Intensely Moisturizing Lipcolor—Heroic, Cover Girl Continuous Color-Warm Brick, Maybelline Color Sensational-Mauve Me, Stargazer Lipstick-103c, Revlon Matte-Fabulous Fig, Sonia Kashuk—Mauvey, Avon Beyond Color-Mad for Mauve, L’Oreal Endless-Mauve Amor, Revlon Colorstay-Ripened Red, Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer—Toffee, Revlon Super Lustrous-Pearl Luminous Pink, and Satin Plum.
And what’s with lead? Lead is a neurotoxin and can be dangerous at small doses. Exposure to lead has been linked to a host of health concerns like: neurotoxicity. It has been linked to learning language and behavioral problems, reduced fertility in both men and women, hormonal changes and menstrual irregularities, and delayed onset of puberty in girls and development of testes in boys.
But lipsticks do not only contain lead. Another US-based study (University of California) found toxic heavy metals in lipsticks including chromium, cadium, aluminum, and manganese.
“Cumulative exposure to a little bit of toxic chemical over a long period of time can add up to harm. A chemical lead builds up in the body over time so low exposure repeatedly can add up to a significant exposure.”
The University of California study also found women applied lipstick from two to 14 times every day. In terms of chemical exposure, that translates into ingesting or absorbing as much as 87 milligrams of product a day.
Lipsticked women know that red lipsticks spell sexy but evidence-based data show that the perfectly red pout can also spell poison.
But it is not only lipsticks. In October 2016, the Philippine FDA released a list of 37 products that “contained harmful chemicals and not registered with the FDA.” Previous reports have documented the presence of mercury in whitening products.
Here’s the FDA-released list of “products that can cause skin irritation:”
1. Dane Papaya Extract Soap Super Active Skin Whitener
2. Verdon Shine Keratin Hair Spa Milk Essence
3. A Bonne Milk Powder Lightening Lotion Plus Collagen
4. HanzhixiuColour Cream (E-15 Grape Red)
5. Hanzhixiu Permanent Hair Colorant (A-18 Golden Red)
6. Professional Skin Care Formula Collagen with Elastin Cream
7. Asudjor Extra Whitening Armpit Cream and Deodorant
8. Malunggay Facial Toner
9. Malunggay Peel-Off Mask
10. Placenta Original Soap
11. Urban Decay
12. Naked 4 Concealer
13. Naked 6 Urban Decay Eyebrow Liquid/Eyeliner Pencil
14. Maxfactor Eye Brightening Mascara
15. Etude House BB Cream Bright Fit
16. Etude House Double Magic Korea Eyeliners
17. Etude House BB Magic Cream
18. Etude House Black Water Proof Eyeliner
19. Member's Mark Moisturizing Hand Soap with Aloe Vera
20. Summer's Eve Simply Sensitive Cleansing Wash for Sensitive Skin
21. Softsoap Crisp Cucumber &Melo Hand Soap
22. Belle & Whistle Natural Care Refreshing Avocado Shower Gel
23. Belle & Whistle Natural Care Moisturising Avocado Body Lotion
24. Belle & Whistle Backyard Garden Rose Luxurious Cream Bath
25. Belle & Whistle Backyard Garden Rose Luxurious Shower Gel
26. AromanceSparadise Cypress Poppy Body Lotion
27. AromanceSparadise Cypress Poppy Bath & Shower Gel
28. AromanceSparadise Cotton Blossoms Bath & Shower Gel
29. AromanceSparadise Cotton Blossoms Body Lotion
30. Darlie Double Action Flouride Toothpaste Original Strong Mint
31. Spanish Garden Pure Vitamin E Moisturizing Beauty Cream
32. Juicy Fruity Awaken Your Senses Strawberry, Lemon & Mango Body Butter
33. D-Nee Pure Head & Body Baby Wash
34. Sesame Street Baby Shampoo Calming Lavender Scent
35. Tesco Pro-vitamin B5 Shampoo Volume & Shine
36. Tesco Everyday Value Baby Lotion
37. Hydrating Argan Oil of Morocco Body Wash
A common adage among the beauty conscious is “no pain, no gain.” But surely this does not mean accumulated effects of chemicals that the consumer is not aware about.
No woman in her right mind would want to paint her lips red and spell poison all over.