The safety of what we put on our lips is important since it is not only absorbed through the skin but is ingested also. There are cleaner lip gloss options that perform like conventional but without all of the potentially toxic ingredients.

Colorants

Heavy metals are found in many lip glosses on the shelves, even though you won’t see them listed on the ingredient label. It is believed that heavy metals contaminate cosmetics from colorants and the process of adding color.[2] Heavy metal contamination is a main concern in cosmetic colorants, particularly lip products. Interestingly, companies are not required to disclose or provide safety data regarding heavy metals in cosmetics. High exposures of heavy metals like cadmium, chromium, iron, nickel and lead may result in health issues such as skin allergies, severe redness, swelling/skin ulcers, cellular death, DNA damage, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, memory loss, reproductive failure and carcinogenic health effects.[1]

Regulation

One of the few ingredients categories that the FDA does regulate is colorants. Color additives as they are called must meet requirements of limits on heavy metal impurities. Colorants commonly used in lip gloss are lake dyes and “FD&C” or “D&C” colorants. Both types are are regulated, but are derived from petroleum or coal-tar and are regulated by the FDA to ensure. Because of this, they not only contain some amounts of heavy metals but also have the same issues associated with petroleum based products such as contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic.[3][4]

Safer colorants include mineral ones like iron oxides, titanium dioxide, and ultramarines. Fitglow Lip Colour Serums use titanium dioxide and iron oxides for pigment and no lake dyes or D&C colorants.

In addition to safer colorants, Fitglow serums are free of other toxic ingredients commonly found in lip gloss:

Parabens - antimicrobial preservatives that are immune and skin toxicants, mimic estrogen and disrupt the endocrine system, are toxic to the developmental and reproductive systems, interfere with gene expression, and are associated with cancer.[5]
Fragrance – mix of fragrance and chemicals associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. Can contain unnamed toxic ingredients like phthalates which are associated with developmental and reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and cancer.[6][7][8][9]
Phenoxyethanol- skin, eye, or lung irritant. In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to use Mommy’s Bliss Nipple cream because it contained phenoxyethanol which was harmful to infants. The statement indicated phenoxyethanol could “depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.” Phenoxyethanol remains a controversial ingredient and even “green” beauty products continue to use it as a preservative.[10]
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) - preservative that shows organ system toxicity in animal studies, with some carcinogenic. Animal studies also show skin, eye and respiratory effects. Associated with skin sensitization in humans.[11][12]

Favorite Lip Gloss

One of my personal favorite lip gloss is the lip serum from Fitglow. Fitglow Lip Colour Serums not only look beautiful, but they use safer colorants and contain organic, plant-based ingredients that hydrate and plump lips. They feel more like a treatment and gently plumps lips to reduce the look of lines without irritating your lips.

High shine
Sweet vanilla taste
Lasting hydration
Vegetable collagen, pomegranate sterol, beet extract, and shea butter.
Bio ferment extracts for plumping
14 colors, options with or without shimmer, and pearlescent.

Fitglow Lip Serum in Gleam, Bare, and Go.

Three of my favorite shades are Gleam, Bare, and Go. Go is a baby pink shade with high shine and no shimmer. Gleam is a beautiful beige nude with shimmer. Bare is a light pearlescent nude.

Safe

Heavy metal contamination is a main concern in cosmetics, particularly lip products. The safety of what we put on our lips is important since it is not only absorbed through the skin but is ingested also. High exposures of heavy metals like cadmium, chromium, iron, nickel and lead may result in health issues such as skin allergies, severe redness, swelling/skin ulcers, cellular death, DNA damage, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, memory loss, reproductive failure and carcinogenic health effects.[1]

Interestingly, companies are not required to disclose or provide safety data regarding heavy metals in cosmetics. It is believed that heavy metals contaminate cosmetics from colorants and the process of adding color.[2]

Colorants such as lake dyes and “FD&C” or “D&C” colorants are regulated, but are derived from petroleum or coal-tar. Because of this, they not only contain some amounts of heavy metals but also have the same issues associated with petroleum based products such as contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic.[3][4]

Safer colorants include mineral ones like iron oxides, titanium dioxide, and ultramarines. Fitglow Lip Colour Serums use titanium dioxide and iron oxides for pigment and no lake dyes or D&C colorants.

In addition to safer colorants, Fitglow serums are free of other toxic ingredients commonly found in lip gloss:

Parabens - antimicrobial preservatives that are immune and skin toxicants, mimic estrogen and disrupt the endocrine system, are toxic to the developmental and reproductive systems, interfere with gene expression, and are associated with cancer.[5]
Fragrance – mix of fragrance and chemicals associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. Can contain unnamed toxic ingredients like phthalates which are associated with developmental and reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and cancer.[6][7][8][9]
Phenoxyethanol- skin, eye, or lung irritant. In 2008, the FDA warned consumers not to use Mommy’s Bliss Nipple cream because it contained phenoxyethanol which was harmful to infants. The statement indicated phenoxyethanol could “depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.” Phenoxyethanol remains a controversial ingredient and even “green” beauty products continue to use it as a preservative.[10]
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) - preservative that shows organ system toxicity in animal studies, with some carcinogenic. Animal studies also show skin, eye and respiratory effects. Associated with skin sensitization in humans.[11][12]