Lipsticks: Here are which ones are NOT safe for health

On the market in Italy there are lipsticks that are not safe for health . This is what the association for the protection and defense of consumers discovered after analyzing 14 lipsticks of different cosmetic brands to test their danger to health . Here are the results of the test and the table with the list of pass and fail lipsticks .

OTHER CONSUMPTION INQUIRY ROSSETTI

Altroconsumo, an Italian association of non-profit consumers, the first and most widespread with over 396,000 members, tested one of the cult products of make up , lipstick, to verify that the ingredients contained were safe for health . The survey involved 14 brands of the best known, the best sellers and some natural and organic. Lipstick addicted, for us there is no good news: a third of the products analyzed did not pass the test !

BRANDS AND LIPSTICKS ANALYZED

Laboratory analyzes involved 14 brands and a single lipstick from their lip product range was tested . Here are the brands and their respective lipsticks:

Avril , Le Rouge Hollywood Lipstick n. 598;

Boho Green , Lipstick 105 Tapis Rouge;

Bourjois , Rouge Velvet the Lipstick 11;

Chanel , Rouge Allure Velvet Exteme 116;

Dior , Couleur Coutur Soin Fondant 861;

Dr. Hauschka , Rouge à Lèvres Dahlia 10;

KIKO , Kikoid Velvet Passion Matte Lipstick 318;

L'Oreal , Color Riche Rouge à Lévres Mat 349;

MAC , Matte Lipstick 707 Ruby Woo;

NYX , Matte Lipstick Longue Tenue Alabama 07;

PuroBio , Lipstick 14;

Santé , Pure Colors of Nature Lipstick n. 24;

So'Bio Etic , Natural Rouge à Lèvres 01;

Too Faced , Peach Kiss Moisture Matte.

RESULTS

The survey showed that 5 out of 14 lipsticks analyzed contain potentially hazardous ingredients. Which ones are they?

The lipsticks that have been considered unsafe for health are those from KIKO, MAC, NYX, Too Faced and Avril .

The lipsticks considered safest for health are those of: Chanel, Dior, Dr. Hauschka, PuroBio, Santé and So'Bio Etic .

Altroconsumo infographics on the tests done on 14 lipsticks

THE TESTS

Altroconsumo's tests focused on two classes of ingredients: heavy metals and mineral oils . Both are prohibited by law . The presence of traces of heavy metals (for which there is no established limit) and mineral oils is allowed, only if properly deprived of the residues of dangerous or carcinogenic substances (which favor the development of cancer / tumor).

All tested lipsticks that contain lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury meet the maximum permitted limits, based on a recommendation from the German government agency for consumer protection and food safety (BVL). The mineral oils are present in most of the analyzed products and are printed on the label with various indications, including: paraffinum liquidum, paraffin, microcrystalline wax, petrolatum.

Why are they dangerous? According to the analyzes carried out by Altroconsumo, if mineral oils are not properly purified they can contain residues of potentially carcinogenic  and dangerous substances once ingested , a fairly common situation when it comes to lip makeup products. These harmful substances are the saturated hydrocarbons of mineral oils (mosh) and the aromatic hydrocarbons of mineral oils (moah) .

From the analysis of Altroconsumo it emerged that mineral oils are also present in some 'promoted' lipsticks such as Dior and Chanel , which however were free of mosh and moah , while Avril certified organic lipstick , while not containing mineral oils, contains moah .

The lipsticks promoted with the best judgment: Dr. Hauschka, So'Bio Etic, Santé, Chanel, PuroBio, Dior

TIPS FOR BUYING A GOOD LIPSTICK

How to spot a potentially dangerous lipstick? What to check when buying a lip product? The consumer protection association recommends that you always read the inci before buying lipsticks, glosses or lip balms and check that there are no ingredients on the label that could contain residues at risk to health , if ingested. Here's what they are:

microcrystalline wax or microcrystalline wax;

ceresin;

hydrogenated microcrystalline wax;

hydrogenated polyisobutene;

ozokerite;

paraffin;

paraffinum liquidum;

petrolatum;

polybutene;

polyethylene;

polyisobutene;

synthetic wax.

ATTENTION TO INGREDIENTS AND NOT TO BRANDS!

In this analysis, 14 types of lipsticks from different brands were considered. Basically, only one lipstick was analyzed for each brand . This means that we cannot judge a brand based on just one product . The fact that KIKO has a potentially unsafe lipstick for health does not mean that all lip products sold by KIKO have this problem. Likewise, the fact that the analyzed Chanel lipstick is considered safe for health does not mean that all Chanel lipsticks are. We would have to analyze them all to know. How do you know which lipsticks do not contain potentially dangerous components? Just read the ingredients!

What do you think of this investigation? Were you surprised by the results? Let us know your views in the comments.

Source: Altroconsumo InSalute - February 2020

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