Safer Cosmetics
Does using lipstick make your lips dry out? Are lipsticks SAFE?
Many women habitually use lipsticks or similar dry lip ‘stick’ based products…barely ever do they think of the health implictions of doing so. Some do it all their lives…some do it even after they have developed cancer…because they have never questioned (and STILL do not question) the safety of their cosmetics.
But the fact is that cosmetics are not inherently safe. The ‘marketing message’ about looking ‘good’ in terms of being plastered wth the latest shades of designer cosmetics brand – is so strong that most women (and men who increasing use ‘toch up’ cosmetics) even think about the long term safety in using such products…THEY SHOULD THOUGH!
Here is a recent yahoo answer to the query as to wheter or not using lipstick regularly ‘makes your lips dry out’:
Well – it is not that your lips become ‘used to the moisture’ but as with any part of the skin – especially sensitive areas like the lips – IF you habitually use a grease-based layer that creates a barrier from air/sun/wind then your skin will not be used tp these elemental effects IF you stop wearing it of a sudden and the weather is windy, cold or hot, and so you may find your lips seems to dry out and even crack.
In fact the majority of lipsticks (if not all stick products) contain a wide range of ingredients that – if you knew all about them – you would probably not want anywhere near your mouth!!
But there are natural mineral based products that use organic ingredients that are healthier and safer for everyday use – and do not stop your skin from ‘breathing’ or pose any potential problems if you lick your lips and swallow the stuff!! (More info about safe products below)
The (Environmental Working Group) EWG showed that women swallow 2 kilos of lipstick ingredients in their lifetime IF they are habitual users.
They say:
“Lipsticks no longer contain whale blubber, but they are still full of animal fats (and in some cases, cow brains), petroleum waxes, carcinogenic coal tar dyes and other”…toxic and/or un-tested chemicals
AND
“28 Percent of lipsticks (of 711 products surveyed in the 2004 Environmental Working Group study, Skin Deep) found to contain ingredients associated with cancer risk, such as butylated hydroxytoluene, nylon-6, ferric red (iron) oxide, polyethylene and titanium dioxide”
Eighty-nine per cent of chemicals used in cosmetics are yet to be evaluated for human safety (the majority of the remaining chemicals have generally only been tested on animals).
You can get some useful free guidebook for identifying toxic chemical ingredients here:
http://www.gonando.com/healthier-lifestyle-ebooks.html
And can also pick up safer lip products here – if you are interested:
http://saferalternative.mionegroup.com/en/category/4
(plus their lip balm is THE BEST! in the world! Even I wouldn’t be without it when the West wind blow…or the North or South wind come to that!!)
Other Refs:
http://www.ewg.org/node/25488
http://www.gonando.com/