According to some sources, it can be anywhere from 1 to 4 kilograms1! If you apply lip balm just twice a day, you may end up consuming around four tubes per year 2.
Through drinks, food, and absorption via the mucous membranes of the lips and mouth, everything in your lipstick ends up inside your body. That’s why we want to draw your attention to this important issue — and why we urge you to consider the safety of cosmetic ingredients.
Traditional lipsticks often contain a blend of vegetable or mineral oils, natural or synthetic waxes, fragrances, preservatives, and chemical additives to improve texture, shine, and longevity. These may include silicones, microplastics (such as polyethylene), and chemical antioxidants like BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), which have been associated with potential harm to the central nervous, respiratory, and endocrine systems.
Some artificial colorants may even contain trace amounts of heavy metals like lead and cadmium.
How can you determine if a product's ingredients are safe?
The easiest way is to look for certification labels on the product, such as:
NaTrue, COSMOS Natural, or COSMOS Organic, ECOCERT, Cosmebio and etc.
These certifications indicate that all ingredients used are considered safe and free from known harmful properties.
Cosmetics with these certifications strictly prohibit:
· Synthetic fragrances and dyes
· Ingredients derived from mineral oils
· Genetically modified substances
· The use of radioactive irradiation on ingredients or final products
To learn more about certification procedures and ingredient safety, visit websites like www.natrue.org.
⚠️ Important Note:
If a product claims to contain "organic chamomile," that refers to just one ingredient — it doesn't guarantee the safety of the entire formula. Always review the full ingredient list!
You can also:
· Check ingredients on dedicated safety websites
· Refer to cosmetic ingredient reference guides
Doctors and Parents Know Best
There are well-known doctors who fought for the health of their children and succeeded — and they say that the ideal cosmetic product is one that you could eat without harm. These individuals even went on to establish schools for parents of children with related health conditions, and have accumulated a wealth of healing knowledge based on this philosophy.
A Real Example
Let’s take a look at the Soft Lip Butter from Alviana, a respected organic brand in Germany:
Ingredients:
Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera*, Cocos Nucifera Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter*, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera**, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter*, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil*, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil*
* from certified organic agriculture
** wild harvested
We really like this ingredient list! We use it ourselves and recommend it even for teenagers.
So, be mindful when buying lipsticks and lip balms!
You do have a choice — so choose certified organic cosmetics that care for your health inside and out.
1https://lipstickqueen.com/how-much-lipstick-does-a-woman-eat-in-a-lifetime/
2https://www-consumer-org-hk.translate.goog/en/shopping-guide/trivia/2020-trivia-lip-balm?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=ru&_x_tr_hl=ru&_x_tr_pto=rq.
