Popular debates may have egged you into thinking of switching back to natural or organic products when buying deodorants and body lotions for fear of carcinogens, but should you include lipsticks in that list? Lipsticks can be equally harmful if one is not careful. According to reports, about 61% of the readily available lipsticks in the market contain lead; so women who apply these multiple times a day are at high risks of ingesting contaminants.

Considering the extent to which adverse effects of using the wrong lipsticks can harm you, learning the tips for buying lipsticks will help you make the correct choice. Today there are many brands that have come up with safe choices in cosmetics that help to accentuate your looks without compromising your health. To ensure you’re steered correctly, given below is a list of ingredients to be avoided when buying new lipsticks.

Basic tips while buying lipsticks and ingredients to be avoided
You need to read the labels carefully to know whether the lipstick you are using contains toxic ingredients or not. With the rapid growth of organic beauty products, there are many new options for buying nontoxic lipsticks that are made with natural colors and safe ingredients, but these aren’t always heavily advertised. One of the most useful tips for buying lipsticks is checking for certifications on the product. If the product does not have any certification from the recognized authorities like MADE SAFE, COSMOS, or USDA Organic, you should choose something else.

• Parabens: These are estrogen-mimicking products that are actually low-cost preservatives; which is why most cosmetics brands use these to save manufacturing costs. Although the evidence is still not foolproof, there are incidents where parabens have been discovered in breast tumor tissues. They may trigger allergic reactions and are believed to be carcinogenic when present in high doses.
• Colors: When any ingredient on the label has an “F” written against it, it implies “food”. “D&C” stands for drugs and cosmetics. When these codes are placed after any color in the ingredients list, it implies that that ingredient has been dyed using chemicals.
• Petroleum/petrochemicals: These are pollutants of the environment and can trigger rashes, acne, and clogged pores. So, you need to check your lipstick ingredients for mineral oils, petroleum distillates, and paraffin, among others and avoid these at all costs. All these are water-repellant in nature and can clog your skin pores.
• Lead: When the body is exposed to high levels of lead, it may result in health issues ranging from seizures to miscarriages. Lead exposure may even cause brain damage in kids; so, when your teen daughter wants to wear lipsticks, you must make sure she gets a lead-free one.
• Fragrance: Fragrances are never regulated because of the trade secret law, referring to what allows companies to not reveal the entire ingredient list of the product. This also means that an organization like the FDA will never be able to fully regulate it and the consumer may be inhaling products that are banned. Such products may cause rashes and migraines, respiratory problems, and even birth defects.