Elixir’s Natural Body Care - Your Blueprint To Beauty

Applying potentially toxic chemicals to your lips doesn’t make sense, especially when safe and healthy brands of lipsticks and glosses are readily available. The following suspect chemicals in lipstick are absorbed into your body as you moisten your lips throughout the day.

That is why you, as a health-conscious consumer should avoid products containing potential cancer-causing ingredients such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and sodium saccharin, which is banned in China but a warning label on the product is apparently good enough for the rest of us, as well as artificial colors including D&C Orange 5, D&C Orange 17, D&C Red 9, D&C Red 19, FD&C Blue 1, FD&C Yellow, and FD&C Yellow 6; some artificial colors may be slightly carcinogenic, contain carcinogenic impurities in some batches, and, as a group, they are simply not part of a fully natural cosmetic product.

What’s more, contact dermatitis and irritation can also be caused by cosmetic pigments such as artificial colors. Dyes most likely to cause irritation include: D&C Orange 5; D&C Red 21; and D&C Red 27. Synthetic fragrances and lanolin may also cause allergies and irritation.

Safe Use Tips

If you have dry or cracking lips, use lipsticks without artificial colors or lanolin.

Natural lipsticks require special handling. Because they are softer and more moist, care must be taken to twist up only a small amount; because they melt more easily than most commercial lipsticks, they should not be left in a hot car or in direct sunlight. Certain colors (hot reds or bright oranges) cannot be as readily produced from natural color pigments.

References:

Hayakawa, R., et al. “Lipstick dermatitis due to C18 alipahtic compounds.” Contact Dermatitis, 1987; 16: 215-219.
U.S. General Accounting Office, Report to Congress: Lack of Authority Hampers Attempts to Increase Cosmetic Safety, No. HRD-78-139. Washington D.C.: GPO., August 8, 1978, pp. 1070-111

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