Red lipsticks add color to the mouth. But when looking at the ingredients, the magazine “Öko-Test” also sees one thing above all: red.
Frankfurt/Main – Chic, but harmful: The magazine “Öko-Test” (Issue 2/2023) examined a total of 18 matt, red lipsticks. With devastating results. Eight lipsticks received the test result “inadequate”, five more cut off “inadequate”. Not a single one of the lipsticks tested was rated “very good” or “good”.
The reason: All 18 lipsticks tested contain titanium dioxide, including the six natural cosmetic products in the test. The substance, which can be identified in cosmetic products by the code CI 77891, is suspected of having a mutagenic effect when taken orally. As a food additive, it has already been banned throughout the EU.
Titanium dioxide may still be used in cosmetics. But with every bite, every careless “licking over the mouth”, according to the testers, part of the paste detaches from the lips – and migrates into the body. They therefore assess titanium dioxide in lipsticks as “risky”.
Dyes can cause skin irritation
And that’s not the only point of criticism from the testers: seven lipsticks also contain the coloring agent yellow orange S, which is suspected of causing allergic reactions such as asthma or neurodermatitis in people who are already exposed to it. Three pencils color the lips with tartrazine. The substance can cause skin irritation in sensitive people.
The fact that three-quarters of conventional products also use petroleum components such as paraffins as carrier fats further darkens the picture. Especially since aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOAH) were detected in three of them, among which there may be carcinogenic components. “It doesn’t have to be – there are good natural alternatives such as beeswax that can be used to replace paraffins,” said the eco-testers.
They recommend: Apply lipstick sparingly and only on special occasions. This at least reduces the amount of harmful substances ingested. dpa
