Lipstick is a staple in most women’s makeup bags, but have you ever thought about what it is made of? The answer may surprise you. Many lipsticks contain animal byproducts, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals that can harm your health. In this blog post, we’ll explore what lipstick is made of and how you can find a safer, more natural alternative.
- Let’s start with the animal byproducts. Carmine, a common red colorant found in many popular lipsticks, is sourced from the carcasses of the female cochineal beetle. To avoid bug guts in your lipstick, look out for ingredients such as carmine, carminic acid, cochineal extract, and more. Additionally, tallow, or rendered animal fat from the carcasses of dead animals, can leave an oily residue on your lips after using your favorite lipstick. Look out for rendered animal fats by avoiding Avoid ingredients such as suet, lard, and palmitic acid.
- Next, let’s talk about heavy metals. These industrial-grade minerals and metals are often used as long-lasting colorants in lipstick but have been linked to organ toxicity, reproductive harm, and even cancer. Heavy metals will be listed as colorants beginning with “Ci”, “Red”, “Blue”, “Yellow”, “Violet” or “Green”. The FDA has recently warranted lead as an impurity in cosmetic lip products. Lead should be limited to a maximum of 10ppm. Other heavy metals allowed in lip products sold today include nickel, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, iron, chromium, and antimony.
- Finally, let’s discuss the toxic 12 chemicals (the “dirty dozen”: BHA and BHT; Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colors listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number; DEA-related ingredients; Dibutyl phthalate; Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives; Parabens; Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance); PEG compounds; Petrolatum; Siloxanes; Sodium laureth sulfate and Triclosan) often found in beauty and personal care products. Many of these chemical culprits have been linked to birth defects, reproductive harm, cancer, neurological harm, and developmental delays. Since these toxic chemicals and contaminants have already been banned from the EU, it’s best to avoid them altogether. Instead, look for natural, plant-based ingredients to keep your lips moisturized and healthy.
Liht Organics is a makeup brand that offers the best of both worlds – highly pigmented lipsticks with an extra nourishing formula. We use a luxurious blend of natural, organic, and vegan ingredients, such as cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil, to soothe, repair, and protect your lips. With just one swipe, you’ll feel the difference in your lips.
To ensure that our organic makeup products are vegan and cruelty-free, we only use pigments from flowers and natural plants. Therefore, certain shades may vary slightly throughout the year, depending on the season in which the organic ingredients grow.
Because Liht Organics products are organic and do not contain chemical stabilizers, textures, and scents may vary due to environmental changes in different seasons and you should store them in cool dry places, avoiding direct sunlight.
Finally, it’s essential to be aware of what’s in your lipstick and to choose a safer, more natural alternative. At Liht Organics, we’re committed to creating beauty products that are both safe and effective. We hope you join us in choosing natural, plant-based ingredients for your makeup bag.
Lips & Cheeks
Lips & Cheeks