Why do we love lipstick so much?
Are you a fan of lipstick? Like to use it daily? I used to be. Honestly, I used lip gloss a lot more, but I really liked the feel and the look of a bright lipstick. It did something to my face – bought out my smile. Made me feel pretty!
The old adage is that you need to ‘put your face on’ right?! Lipstick is part of this. Got to have your lipstick on, or you aren’t made up. I remember my mum saying this and she wouldn’t go out the house without it. Today perhaps I’m a bit wiser (maybe not), but I’m not so worried about make up and looking pretty. Lipstick goes on for special occasions and when I’m going out, but it’s not a must. This is a good thing, cause before I swapped out my lipsticks their ingredients weren’t great!
What’s so bad about lipstick?
The data is clear, we consume around 2-4kg of lipstick in our lifetime. That’s a lot, considering it’s meant to make us pretty, not be eaten!! While we roll the lipstick on, we inadvertently lick our lips, eat food with it on and well we consume lipstick. The more you use the more you consume.
What’s in your lipstick?! The harmful ingredients
If you are consuming good ingredients, it’s not so bad right?! But when they are toxic, it’s better off going without! Let’s have a look at the toxic ingredients in lipstick.
- Parabens – Found in many self-care and beauty products. This one is a baddie and is in fragrances also. Linked to hormone and endocrine disruption.
- Phthalates – A known endocrine disruptor which has links to infertility.
- Petrochemicals – Come from crude oil and are linked to skin irritation as well as cancer, respiratory issues, kidney disease, endocrine disruption as well as are overall bad for the environment.
- Synthetic Dyes – May contain heavy metals which accumulate in the body over time. They may also affect the reproductive system as well as cause allergies.
The chemical cocktail effect
Overall, these chemicals as well as a ton of others within lipsticks are nasties for your health. Like perfumes and deodorants, it’s not the one use of these that is the issue it’s that chemical cocktail that we allow into our body system. We use these as well as numerous others that build up and create this toxic environment within our gut, as well as within our energy system.
How lipstick and toxins affect our energy
… Not only do products that are full of toxins affect our digestive, immune, hormone and reproductive systems (to name a few), they also affect our vibration. When our body isn’t in great working order it is easier to feel emotionally and energetically out of balance.
What’s the good news about lipstick?!
The good news is that you don’t have to accept this. You don’t have to consume those ingredients. You can do create change in your body. I always believe that once you know something you cannot knowingly do nothing about it. You have the opportunity to be better, do better and treat your body better. Here’s a few changes you can make.
- Swap out the toxic lipstick for ones without the toxins. There are a few good brands you can chose from. I like eye of Horus and Inika. Please remember that while some are labelled at ‘good for you’ marketing can be deceitful. Greenwashing is when products are sold as clean or green and are anything but this. Look for ones without all the nasties and use apps like chemical maze to read the ingredients so you know what to avoid and what is okay.
- Awareness creates knowledge and understanding. Once you are aware of what to avoid this will allow you to avoid this in other products as well. Knowledge is power right, and this will create a flow on effect in your life. It’s like layers of understanding that become part of your life. Again know better and therefore do better.
- Share this with your kids. Encourage them to use clean products that will support their hormones and not lower their energy levels.
Swapping out products is hard to start with...
It’s new. Anything new is hard. It takes effort. However, once you know what you are doing it becomes easier and easier, and it becomes part of your lifestyle. I encourage you to take that step. One swap at a time. It will change the way you feel once you begin to lower the toxic load on your body. You can thank me for it later 🙂
Got more questions about reducing the toxins?
Any questions feel free to send me a message here. Alternatively, you can check out my blog on deodorants and perfume here. Reducing your toxic load is part of a lifestyle change, understanding what is good and not so good for our body. To find out more about raising your energy levels feel free to check out my e book here.
As always reach out if you have any questions.
Blessings, Larissa
Wholistic Wellness Hub 