12 July 2010 - 8:51Love your lips

Post by Prabhjit Banga

Lipstick….my first flirt with makeup at the age of 5…20 years later that flirtation never ceased. But now I realize that the product that gives me those glamorous, flirty lips can be endangering my health at the same time.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, many lipsticks on the market today contain a surprising amount of lead. Lead is a toxic substance that can affect the nervous system and brain and stunt the growth of children. Makeup worn on the mouth is not only ingested but also absorbed through the skin. In addition to lead, there are an estimated 10,000 chemicals that the cosmetic industry uses to produce lipstick.

Ready to trade your tube of red for something a little greener?
Today, there is an amazing array of natural ingredient and certified organic makeup lines featuring eco friendly lipstick. When looking for natural lipstick, check for ingredients such as – jojoba oil, shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, hemp seed oil, flowers, natural butters, and botanical extracts. I personally use Aveda’s Nourish-Mint Smoothing Lip Color, which not only comes in a refillable lipstick case, it is also made with 96% post-consumer recycled resin. The lipstick also contains natural lip plumping ingredients such as coconut protein, pomegranate seed oil and bilberry boost.

Checking for Toxins
If you’d like to see how your lip color fares, check out Skin Deep, a very comprehensive cosmetic safety database from the Environmental Working Group. They provide safety ratings and list ingredients that could be toxic and potentially irritating for more than 40,000 products.

Are you concerned about the ingredients in lip products? Are you switching to more natural alternatives? What are your favorites?