Stiftung Warentest warns!
The ingredient in many lipsticks could change the genetic make-up
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Whether for that certain something or as a daily companion – lipstick is part of the daily routine for many. Stiftung Warentest has now found out, however, that most of them use a color pigment that can damage the genetic make-up.
In the current issue (11/2021) Stiftung Warentest presents the results for a total of 17 lipsticks tested. First of all: There is no test winner due to the harmful substances contained in all lipsticks. Nobody got the grade satisfactory either. Two pens get one defective because they contain critical components of mineral oil.
Anyone who applies lipstick every day “eats” five pencils a year
This calculation shows why the pollutants are so dangerous: You don’t just wear lipstick, you also “eat” a lot of it. Anyone who applies lipstick daily “consumes” a total of five pens or the equivalent of 57 milligrams of color per day throughout the year.
All pencils contain the whitening color pigment titanium dioxide. For a long time it was considered harmless. The amount of intake and new findings from the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) have now led to a re-evaluation. The authority could not refute the suspicion of a mutagenic effect. Means: The genetic material of cells can be damaged by consumption and possibly even cause cancer, according to Stiftung Warentest.
Stiftung Warentest: No lipstick is better than satisfactory – all of them contain harmful substances
Due to the classification of titanium dioxide as a pollutant, none of the lipsticks tested is free of pollutants and is not unreservedly recommended by Stiftung Warentest.
However, there is good news: after all, lipsticks from certified natural cosmetics do not contain any mineral oil components or synthetic counterparts. The testers also had nothing to complain about with any of the pens in terms of coverage and maintenance.
Pollutants in lipsticks: what to look out for
If you want to check your existing lipsticks or want to be on the safe side with your next purchase, you should pay attention to the code CI 77891. Pay attention not only to titanium dioxide, but also to titanium dioxide. Mineral oil ingredients are also often stated as mosh ingredients, which stands for Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons. They are indicated on the product packaging as petrolatum, ozokerite, cera microcristallina or paraffin, for example.