Few experiences in the realm of cosmetics are more satisfying than opening a brand new lipstick. When you catch that initial glimpse of its pristinely untouched surface the first instance you remove the cap, time itself ceases for a brief moment. If you have a lipstick affinity as strong as mine, you know exactly what I am talking about…

When we consider the potentially (and surprisingly) hazardous ingredients of what may actually be lurking within those lavish little tubes, however, things begin to appear far less than pristine. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a 2007 independent lab study revealed that 61 percent of several popular lipstick brands contained lead among other toxic ingredients. Daily activities from coffee-guzzling to noodle-slurping make it inevitable that at least some lipstick will enter our mouths and be ingested. This is why consideration of ingredient safety particularly pertains to lip products. Personally, I would much prefer my pasta topped with marinara rather than poison. Continue reading →