Makeup and Lip Care: Yes, You Are Probably Eating Some of It

Lip products are a unique category in beauty because you actually ingest a meaningful amount of them throughout the day. Every time you eat, drink, lick your lips, or just go about your life, a portion of your lip product ends up inside you. Some estimates suggest people who wear lip products daily can ingest several pounds of product over their lifetime.

The specific concern with lipsticks and lip glosses is heavy metal contamination. Lead, cadmium, chromium, and aluminum have all been detected in lipstick products. These are not intentionally added ingredients. They come from the color pigments used to create shades, particularly reds, pinks, and oranges. The FDA has tested hundreds of lipstick products and found detectable lead in more than 400 of them. There is no safe level of lead exposure according to the CDC.

For other makeup like foundation and mascara, PFAS have become a significant concern. A 2021 study from the University of Notre Dame tested 231 cosmetic products and found that 56 percent of foundations and eye products had high fluorine levels, indicating the likely presence of PFAS. PFAS are called forever chemicals because they do not break down in the body or environment.

Ingredients to Watch For

• PFAS or high fluorine content in waterproof or long-wearing products
• Synthetic dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 in lip products
• Talc: sometimes contaminated with asbestos, look for "asbestos-free tested"