For many women around the world, lipsticks are an essential beauty product, used to liven up one’s look or to simply add color and spunk to an outfit. However, research has shown that many of today’s popular brands of lipstick carry lead as an ingredient, and lead is a dangerous, toxic ingredient. Lead is fatal and can lead to cancer, so being aware on the products that are lead-free and safe to use is important.
These revelations on lipsticks have caused many groups to do extensive research on what brands in the market are safe and lead-free. The accepted amount of lead present is less than 0.2 parts per million (ppm), declared by the Food and Drug Administration. Here are some that you can use:
1. The Body Shop has long been known for its advocacies against animal testing and strong principles for use of only natural ingredients that also support communities around the world. They are a fierce believer of employing only ethical means in manufacturing their wide range of beauty products for men and women as well as making use of fairly traded ingredients. Because of the company’s commitment to the environment, human rights and community trade, they have long been upheld for their safe selection of makeup and lipsticks that are also high quality.
2. Erth Mineral Makeup specializes in high quality mineral makeup products that range from eye shadows, concealers, brushes, bronzes, and lip balms. Their products make use of only 100% pure minerals that are non-comedogenic. Their selection of lip glosses come in 3 ounce trios with a slight sparkle and in colors that ultra light and wearable for women of any age.
3. Josie Maran Cosmetics are named after its famous founder and supermodel. The cosmetics line was borne out of the supermodel’s want to contribute something back to the world. Josie Maran cosmetics makes use of biodegradable packaging as well as environment friendly initiatives in its production. The line is described as luxurious with a conscience, so women can feel free to wear their products yet tread lightly on the earth. The lip products range from lip glosses, lip plumpers, finger paints, lip palettes, lipsticks and lip liners in a range of juicy sumptuous colors.
4. Lip balm addicts will love My Lip Stuff, a brand dedicated to producing a range of lip products that are safe and environmentally friendly. There are over 400 flavors of lip-softening products as well as body products. The brand was created to help people around the world who have a consistent problem of chapped lips, yet each product is made only from natural ingredients and are not animal tested.
5. Silk Naturals has a fantastic selection of organic lip glosses and lipsticks, not to mention their unique Kiss Bliss Demi Gloss which all contain only organic ingredients. The range of lip products come in a wide selection of shiny and sheer colors for every taste. The founder’s philosophy is based on the principle that makeup should be fun, yet each product is proof that fun makeup need not be expensive nor harmful to one’s health or the environment.
Not all natural makeup is safe. Lead in lipstick comes from two sources: as a pigment or as a by-product that come from raw materials such as zinc oxide, mineral wax, paraffin or other ingredients. Just because something is labelled as “natural” does not mean necessarily mean that it is lead free. A new book, LEAD BABIES reveals a lot of current and practical information about lead. Its main focus is neurological damage lead causes to developing brains but it also contains a comprehensive section which reveals that lead can be found in the least likely places such as lipstick, chocolate and natural calcium suplements. More information on the book can be found at http://www.nomoreleadbabies.com.
Comment by Joanna — May 1, 2009 @ 7:05 pm