When it comes to makeup, I think lipstick is a must-have–and I'm not talking just one or two tubes. Every woman should own a classic red, a hot pink, a berry, a burgundy and a nude lipstick. Heck, I own so many of every shade I've lost count. Yes, I'm a tad bit obsessed with lipstick, I know. But what I didn't know was that my favorite beauty product is actually made of the most horrifying ingredients ever. Honestly, do you have any idea what's in your lipstick?
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I know a lot of people who would rather turn a blind eye and remain ignorant than know what's really in their stuff. I'm the complete opposite. I need to know what's in my food, my cleaning products, my laundry detergent, my body wash and–of course–my beauty products. What if it has something that's actually harmful? According to an experiment conducted by chemistry teacher, Andy Brunning from Bournemouth, England, a lot of lipsticks contain strange chemical including insects and chili. Yes, you read that correctly. Crushed cochineal bugs are used to create that deep pigment you find in most red lipsticks. How nasty is that?
Well it's not the only strange chemical found in lipsticks today. I did some online digging and not only would a lot of these ingredients make you puke, but some of them are actually pretty dangerous. Here are seven surprising (and gross) lipstick ingredients you NEED to know about!
Image via Corbis Images
Cochineal beetles
Not a fan of beetles? Then you might want to throw away all your precious red lipsticks because according to The New York Times, these insects are boiled and crushed, then put in a red dye that's used in a lot of red lipsticks. Gross!
Dead animals
Apparently fat from decaying animals is used not only in skincare products, but also in lipsticks, eyeshadows and soap. How exactly do cosmetic companies obtain this ingredient? Well according to Skin Deep Cosmetic's Safety Database, they get it either from animals that die before they reach the slaughterhouse, shelter animals, lab animals and even expired meat. The bodies of these dead animals are then boiled in a pot to help create fatty byproducts. Now that's just wrong.
Snail slime
If you're a fan of escargot, this might not even bother you. But I thought I'd let you know that snail slime is used in a lot of cosmetics, including lipstick because it's made of proteins, glycolic acids and even elastic which helps aid in moisturizing. That's SO nasty!
Dangerous colorants
Apparently colorants like D&C Red 36 and D&C Red 22 Aluminim Lake are dangerous chemicals found in many lipsticks. Researchers have found that exposure to these hazardous chemicals can damage your nervous system and cause a ton of other health concerns.
Rust
Before you purchase your next tube of lipstick, look at the ingredients list found on the packaging. If you see ferrous oxide, beware. Basically, that's just a fancy way of saying rust. It's used because it helps provide color and pigment, but it's harmful and kind of gross too.
Pepper spray
If you're using lip plumping formulas, then you might actually be putting pepper spray on your pout. How insane is that? Keep an eye out for it, by looking for an ingredient called Oleoresin Capsicum.
Wool wax
There's an oil called lanolin that sheep wool naturally produces. It's placed in a lot of cosmetics including lipsticks and lip balms for its intense moisturizing properties.
