This pretty red lipstick (and even that purple shimmer lip gloss) may have toxic ingredients that can poison you! | Source: ShutterStock

Poison is something most of us associate with snakes or stuff under the sink–not stuff we put on our lips. But studies show that most of our favorite lipstick and lip gloss colors are actually made with toxic ingredients that can be poisonous, and that’s pretty scary!

A study was done of 32 popular lipsticks and lip glosses, and many were shown to contain toxic metals manganese and aluminum–and the ones young women purchased the most often contained the highest levels of the poisons. Yikes! Another potential toxin found in lipsticks and lip glosses was chromium.

The research reports that average lipstick and lip gloss use–around two or three applications a day (so you figure, once before the school, once after lunch and another before going out at night)–could expose gals to dangerous levels of chromium. And what’s scarier is that experts said we ingest these toxins “bit by bit” over time.

The poison metals in the lipsticks and lip glosses have been linked to cancer, but it’s unclear exactly which ones put you at risk.

And that bugs me a bit: The researchers wouldn’t divulge which lipstick and lip gloss brands they tested out in the study, but they did warn that they’re pretty popular ones. “The lipsticks and lip glosses in our study are common brands available in stores everywhere. Based on our finding, a larger, more thorough survey of lip products and cosmetics in general is warranted.”

Um, isn’t telling us where the poison is warranted too? If they’re that concerned with safety and health of people using makeup with toxic ingredients, the least they could do is tell us what lipstick actually has them!

Are you going to rethink your lipstick and lip gloss choices since news of the toxic ingredients hit? Do you think researchers should reveal which makeups they tested out has poison and toxic metals? Tell us in the comments!

Still want to wear lipstick? Here’s how to rock red without looking like a clown!

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