Lipstick and your health

It is no secret that everything we put on our lips will end up in our stomachs. So why do we continue using toxic products on our lips?

Studies have shown that the average woman consumes 3kgs of lip products every 10 years!

So toss away those toxin-filled lipsticks and opt for natural ones, your body will thank you for it. 

Ingredients to avoid 

When looking for natural lip products, it can be difficult to know what ingredients are or aren’t safe. Here are a few nasties to look out for:

• Synthetic preservatives and antioxidants (BHA, BHT); may cause skin irritation and disrupt the reproductive system 
• Toxic heavy metals (lead, nickel, aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, antimony and chromium); can increase the risk of cancers and reproductive toxicity. 
• Parabens; can be carcinogenic (lead to cancer)
• Petroleum and mineral oils;Can cause inflammation and a compromised immune system. 

Ingredients to love 

Whilst there are many ingredients to avoid when shopping for your fave lippy, there are also many to seek out due to their beneficial properties.

Beezwax, fruit and vegetable pigments, natural plant oils, avocado oil, Kakadu plum, marine collagen, rosehip oil, castor seed oil and vitamin E are just some of the ingredients that will nourish your skin and body.

 

Being a ‘conscious consumer’

With more and more people turning to natural products, companies have become increasingly good at hiding nasty products or creating the impression that they are natural/organic when they aren’t. This can be referred to as greenwashing.

It is important to be a ‘conscious consumer’ when looking for lipsticks. You can do this by only buying from brands that are 100% transparent in all aspects of their business, as well as those who are committed to creating safe, toxic-free products that are good for the body, as well as the environment.

Be a researcher, check the brands morals, look at product reviews and scan the ingredient list.

A brand that I would recommend to everyone is Luk Beautifood, whose products are all 100% natural and toxin-free. Their ethos is that what we put on our skin should be as nutritious and safe as the foods we eat. This is reflected in their ingredient list, as well as the countless awards and certifications they hold. 

You can purchase these lipsticks on the Products with Purpose website under makeup and lips. 

So ditch the nasty lipsticks, and look as well as feel beautiful.