It is easy for products that are applied to the lips to be swallowed. It is vital to choose natural products, made with harmless substances.
Every morning millions of women use a pencil or lipstick with the intention of giving them light, color and increasing their sensuality.
The lips also have the finest skin on the entire body and are very exposed to cold and sun, so they must be carefully cared for to keep them healthy and beautiful. What we are often not aware of is that, when applying a product to protect or beautify the lips, substances that are harmful to health can also be added.
A group of researchers at the University of Berkeley, in California, detected lead, cadmium, chromium, aluminum and up to five other metals in a selection of 32 lipsticks and lip glosses in common use. Taking into account that a person who uses these cosmetics regularly can ingest 24 mg of the product per day (or more if it is applied several times), the data is worrying.
Other substances detected in lipstick are phthalates, which like lead are considered endocrine disruptors. Some brands already indicate on their labels that they are free of substances such as phthalates.
However, certain metals are difficult to identify. Except for aluminum, they are not specifically added to lipsticks and glitters, but are present in the pigments used in their manufacture, so they are not among the ingredients.
For this reason, using natural cosmetics makes it possible to ensure that such substances are not put on the lips. It should also be borne in mind that what is applied on them can not only be ingested, but due to the fineness of the skin it can also be absorbed.
MOISTURIZE, NOURISH AND PROTECT THE LIPS
Part of the beauty of the lips lies in the sensitivity transmitted by their delicacy and fine skin. As it is an area without glands that secrete substances that protect the skin, it is important to use products that hydrate, nourish and act as a protective barrier.
In the natural lip balms shortenings vegetable base are used. Cocoa is so popular that it has given them the name, although today it is being replaced by more nutritious shea butter.
In addition, vegetable waxes (candelilla and carnauba) are usually added, to increase the barrier effect. Also nourishing oils (such as jojoba) and healing extracts (calendula), antioxidants (berries) or immunostimulants (echinacea or propolis, to prevent herpes).
All of these substances make them much more than just protectors.
Vaseline should be avoided. Like other petroleum derivatives, they are limited to creating a film that clogs the skin so that it does not lose water. They have a rebound effect – more and more are needed to achieve the same sensation – and may contain fruity aromas and harmful colors.
To color the lips, lipsticks consist of an oil base to which pigments are added.
In natural cosmetics, a vegetable butter is usually used with oils such as castor or jojoba that is mixed with natural mineral pigments, free of the metals that may be in the pigments of conventional lipsticks.
