Do You Know What Is In Your Lipstick?

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Through the years, the main reason why women, still use lipstick remain the same: they want to make themselves stand out among the crowd and make themselves look more attractive.

Without a doubt, the use of lipsticks has come a long way since the ancient times when the only option for people to apply lipsticks on their lips was by using colourful fruit extracts. Nowadays, there are different kinds of ingredients to make the best lipsticks. Competing brands use different ingredients for their lipsticks; but the secret is, they all make use of the same basic ingredients.

Common Ingredients in commercial Lipsticks

Wax

Wax is the main ingredient of all lipsticks since this it is the main reason why lipstick can be applied on the lips. The most commonly used waxes for lipsticks are carnauba wax, candelilla wax and beeswax.

Oil

Oil comprises more than 60% of the entire composition of a lipstick. The most commonly used oils for lipsticks include mineral oils and vegetable oils.

Pigments

Pigments are the main reason why there are different colours of lipsticks. Women have different preferences when it comes to the colour of lipstick that they should wear.

Alcohol

Alcohol is used as a component in making lipsticks as a solvent for oil and wax.

Fragrance

Synthetic ingredients of lipstick often have their own smell that can ruin the entire smell of the lipstick. However, manufacturers add fragrance in order to eliminate the foul odours.

Preservatives and Antioxidants

Lipsticks are cosmetic products that do not expire. They have ingredients that become less functional as time passes by. For that reason, most commercial lipsticks contain preservatives to prolong their life.

Harmful ingredients

Lead

There are some cosmetic companies who make use of lead as one of their ingredients in producing lipstick. Due to its threat to the health of people, health authorities banned the use of lead for lipsticks but some cosmetic companies have found a way to go around this and hence, you are not really sure how safe the lipstick you are using is.

Harmful pigments

There are pigments used to colour lipsticks that are derived from coal tar. Coal tar is a substance that can cause attention deficit disorder, skin irritation, headache, and nausea due to its toxicity. Another harmful pigment used for lipsticks is Carmine, a substance that can cause skin irritation.

Carmine, also known as E120, Natural Red, Crimson Lake, and Cochineal, is a red pigment containing carminic acid and aluminum salt. Carmine is a product of scale insects indigenous to the tropic and subtropic regions of Mexico and South America.

A Look into How Lipsticks are Made.

Even though lipsticks have greatly developed and changed since the times they were first introduced, the formula of creating them has still remained the same. Basically, lipstick is made from the mixture of pigments, waxes, and oils which can then be applied to the lips. However, creating a good lipstick needs more than just those basic ingredients. There are even times wherein a lot of time and numerous variations in recipe are required in order to make the right formula for creating the perfect lipstick.

Although there are some instances when homemade lipstick recipes may not feel the same way as the highly processed machine-made variety or those which are full of synthetic ingredients, there is always a sense of safety or peace of mind when you know exactly what is in the lip products that you are using.

Being able to make smarter choices when it comes to cosmetic products is especially helpful for individuals with very sensitive skin and equally sensitive sense of smell. In case you love a certain lip product but can’t tolerate the taste or odour of that lip product, you can always create your own lipstick and add to it flavours and scents you love. For those who want to avoid synthetic materials, or is vegan or have allergies to some substances, there is no more need to deprive your lips of the best lipstick and lip products you need since creating your own lipstick means freedom to take out the lipstick ingredients you don’t like and replace it with smarter and healthier options.

Purple Obsession Lipstick recipe.

Ingredients:

1/2 tspn beeswax

1/2 tspn Candelilla Wax

1/2 tspn Shea Butter

1 tspn Castor Oil

1 tspn Jojoba Oil

1 ml Vitamin E

1 tspn Purple Mica

1/2 ml Lavender Essential Oil ( optional)

Method:

1. Sterilise all utensils, product containers and workshop surfaces. Wipe Utensils down with alcohol.

2.Melt waxes , butters and oils in microwave or double boiler.

3. When the waxes are completely melted, add vitamin E.

4. Add Mica , Lavender Essential Oil and stir well.

5. Pour mixture into the lipstick silicone mould.

Allow to naturally re-harden.

6. Remove lipstick from the mould and place in the lipstick tube.

Lana King
Lana King is the founder and the brains behind
Create Your Cosmetics (www.createyourcosmetics.com.au) company.
Lana King started her career in the cosmetic industry as Biotechnologist, but soon realised that her real passion was educating people about safe and fresh cosmetics.
It was her love of natural cosmetics and passion for inspiring people that lead her to write a book “10 Reasons to Swap Your Lipstick – The Smart Woman’s Guide to Better Lipstick Options”
In her spare time, Lana loves to create her own raw food recipes and practice yoga. She is also making plans to fulfil her dream of building a yoga retreat with a huge collection of books.