Toxic Ingredients in Lipstick to Avoid for Clean Beauty

There’s no other makeup that can renew your face like lipstick. A swipe of colour can create the perfect pout in seconds. Yet, the ingredients that provide that rosy hue and shiny sheen deserve a second look-have you ever wondered what toxic ingredients there are in your favourite lipstick?

Many makeup products are made with ingredients that include chemicals, such as preservatives and fragrance. Preservatives make a product last longer, while fragrance, as the name implies, makes the product smell like cupcakes, tropical fruit, flowers, or something else that’s pleasant. The thing with lipstick is, we wear it on our lips. So anytime we lick our lips while wearing it, we can ingest the ingredients. Yikes, right?

Not to worry: We put on our investigative hats and researched which lipstick ingredients you may want to avoid and why. Find out what they are below, so you can make more informed choices as you shop!

Why Parabens are Harmful in Lipsticks

Remember how we mentioned preservatives? Well, parabens fall under that category. They cover a wide group of chemicals, and prevent the growth of mould and bacteria in makeup and personal care products.

The most common parabens you’ll find in makeup are methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben.

Parabens, as a cosmetic ingredient, have the potential to act like hormones in your body. In particular, the female sex hormone oestrogen. This has caused concern, because excessive exposure to oestrogen can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Yet, one study found the direct link between parabens and the development of breast cancer is debatable. Better to be safe than sorry! Be sure to find clean beauty options since parabens are on our “toxic ingredients in lipstick to avoid” list.

Why Fragrance is Harmful in Lipsticks

When you think of fragrance in beauty and skincare products, you may think of something like scented body lotion.

But did you know fragrance might be added to makeup (like lipstick) to cover the unpleasant smell of other ingredients? Makeup can contain just enough fragrance to do that, without giving off a noticeable scent. Now this is where things can get confusing (but we’ve got you covered):

Some products labelled “unscented” may actually contain fragrance ingredients. These ingredients may irritate your skin and cause swelling, and may also cause your skin to become sensitive to sunlight.

So, when you’re shopping, check the product label for the words “fragrance free.” That tells you the product does not include fragrance ingredients or masking scents. If you see the term “unscented” on a label, that typically means the product might include chemicals that neutralise or mask the scent of other ingredients.

Why Synthetic Dyes are Harmful in Lipsticks

Synthetic dyes are basically artificial colours. They’re the most widespread dyes in the cosmetics industry.

And while you may know lipsticks by shade names like Cotton Candy Pink, Bonfire Red or Coral Crush, the names of synthetic dyes used in lipsticks are more straight forward. There’s Red 33, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. Those are a few common ones.

All those dyes are FDA-approved for use in cosmetics, but you may still want to avoid them. Here’s why: Red 33 can release amines, which are considered to be carcinogenic (cancer causing). Yellow 5 may cause your lips and tongue to itch, as well as skin irritation and swelling. As for Yellow 6, potential allergic reactions are a reason to avoid this ingredient.

In addition, synthetic dyes are poorly biodegradable because of their structure and chemical properties, making them a no-no for the environment.

Why Petroleum is Harmful in Lipsticks

What comes to your mind when you hear “petroleum?” If you said gas, you’re not too far off, and we’ll get to that in a minute. We need to talk about wax first.

Lipsticks (the waxy kind that come in the traditional twist-up tube), are made with various natural waxes. These include:

· Beeswax

· Ceresin

· Carnauba wax

· Ozokerite

· Microcrystalline wax, which is derived from petroleum

Mineral oils, vegetable oils, or petroleum jelly are used to soften these waxes.

Now here’s the part about gas: Petroleum jelly is made from petroleum material left over from oil and gas production. If that makes petroleum jelly sound iffy to you, there’s data that agrees with you.

According to a report published by Michigan State University’s Center for Research on Ingredient Safety, some data suggests compounds found in petroleum jelly could be carcinogenic, specifically polyaromatics and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOHA).

Polyaromatics are also called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. They’re a group of chemicals that naturally occur in coal, gasoline and crude oil. MOHAs are part of a range of chemical compounds mainly obtained from refining or distilling petroleum.

While there’s little evidence to support the finding that compounds in petroleum jelly could be carcinogenic, we recommend erring on the side of caution and avoiding this ingredient, as well.

Petroleum jelly is still used in lipsticks despite the concern, but regulatory bodies have been taking note. According to the European Union (EU) cosmetics regulation, mineral oils (petroleum jelly contains mineral oil) are only permitted in cosmetics if:

· Its full refining history is known

· The starting material is not carcinogenic

· The distillate was tested using specific methods

In the U.S., there are no regulatory standards for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Why Carmine is Harmful in Lipsticks

Bugs in your lipstick? Er, sort of.

Derived from gravid cochineal insects, carmine is widely used as a pigment that provides brilliant cool pink and red shades. That’s thanks to carminic acid.

More specifically, carmine is the red colour that accumulates in pregnant insects’ shells. When the insects are dried, a liquid extract is obtained from them. The liquid is then mixed with alumina (also known as aluminium oxide) to produce carminic acid — the main colouring agent in carmine.

And because carmine comes from insects, it’s recognized as a natural dye.

So, if it’s natural, why is it an ingredient to avoid, you ask?

Other than the fact carmine is extracted from insects, which makes it unsuitable for anyone who wants to avoid animal products, there have been reports of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to carmine in makeup. Those reactions ranged from hives to anaphylactic shock.

Why Mica is Harmful in Lipsticks

Shimmery and pearlescent makeup, like highlighters and lustrous lipsticks, are oh-so-pretty! Their reflective effect is the result of mica, a naturally occurring mineral dust.

We love a natural ingredient, but mica has been found to irritate skin and eyes, and cause redness and itchiness. One study suggests it irritates the mucous membranes that line your lungs. So, when you inhale mica, it may cause you to cough, wheeze, or experience shortness of breath. The same study also says natural mica can contain heavy metals.

Some people avoid mica because mica miners and millers have a higher risk of developing a lung disease called pneumoconiosis, and because mica alone is fibrogenic (it promotes the abnormal accumulation of fibrous tissue).

The Last Word on Toxic Lipstick Ingredients to Avoid

In the pursuit for clean beauty, knowledge is definitely power. By identifying and avoiding toxic ingredients in lipstick like parabens, fragrance, synthetic dyes, petroleum, carmine, and mica, you’re safeguarding your health, as well as your appearance.

You can make that process easier by downloading the Think Dirty app! It’s like shopping with an ingredients expert by your side. Use the app to scan the barcode on products, and learn if they include any harmful ingredients. Achieving clean beauty has never been easier!

Download the Think Dirty app now from the App Store or Google Play.

Use code ‘LIPSTICKDAY2024' for 10% off when you buy a yearly subscription!

Disclosure: We are a professional review and product rating website and mobile app that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review and rate. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own interpretations of a trusted source.