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Lipstick has so many functions. It can be used as armour, a pick-me-up, to make a statement with an all-black outfit, or it can simply be part of one's everyday beauty regime.
According to the department of trade and industry, in times of economic hardship consumers adopt the "lipstick effect" approach to consuming. As they can't afford luxury items they tend to go for smaller, inexpensive items to treat themselves with. Especially lipstick. This has been dubbed "the lipstick effect".
GlobalCosmeticsNews.com reports that this phenomenon is currently in full force in South Africa - particularly in the cosmetic and toiletry retail sales sector. This article also notes that both the Clicks Groups and Revlon SA has seen considerable spikes in the sales of lipstick in the last year.
But, should we be concerned about the rising use of lipstick? We all know that we consume our lipstick. It is basically inevitable as it literally sits on your lips. Yet we never truly see it as harmful. Least of all poisonous.
According to Mercola, nearly 13 000 chemicals are used in cosmetics and, on average, women apply a staggering 168 types of chemicals onto their bodies every day.
Shocking right? However, if you look at your daily beauty routine (for example: face wash, moisturiser, toner, foundation, blusher, mascara and lipstick) and start reading the vast list of ingredients crammed into three lines, it comes as no surprise.
One of the biggest concerns with regards to lipstick in particular is the lead content. However, the U.S. medical and cosmetics watchdog Food and Administration Drug (FDA) has stated that the lead levels found in most lipsticks do not pose an immediate threat to consumers, i.e. when the product is used as intended. Though some say there is poor regulation when it comes to heavy metals in lip cosmetics in the U.S. where the majority of lipsticks get manufactured.
Berkeley scientists have raised concerns about the U.S. standards for metal content in cosmetics saying cadmium, chromium and lead should be considered unacceptable at any level. The European Union already considers these chemicals too harmful - in any quantity - and has banned their use in cosmetics.
Read: The controversial ingredient found in your cosmetics
Lead and chromium (which has been linked to stomach tumours) are some of the leading toxins found in your lipstick, Berkeley scientists found 75% of this chemical element in both lipstick and lip glosses. When is a lipstick or gloss is not blotted or in cases when it is constantly reapplied throughout the day it ups your daily ingestion of chemicals. An acceptable amount is apparently 24 milligrams, yet when slathering on makeup and particularly lipstick, this amount enters the high risk zone which could potentially be harmful.
According to the Daily Mail lead and toxic metals such as aluminium and cadmium are also often found in lipsticks, which could damage our nervous and immune system. And since we digest our lipstick, the lead gives off potent neurotoxin and this builds up in our tummy, which isn’t good for our body at all. In most lipstick products the levels of these toxins are acceptable, yet it does raise some concerns when we consider children playing with makeup, etc.
In the past, the FDA tested 400 lipsticks and calculated their lead count, and found that a certain beauty house's Colour Sensational Pink Petal lipstick had the highest amount with 7.19 ppm (parts per million).
Nonetheless, the internet proves just how marvellous it is yet again, as a site run by a non-profit organisation, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), evaluates and scores your product’s safety. Check it out now.
