Red alert on lipsticks

Lipsticks can be hazardous to health, the Consumer Council has found after tests show more than half of the brands on the market carry contaminants and allergens.

The watchdog tested 23 traditional lipsticks and seven lip tints or liquid lipsticks, costing from HK$65 to HK$505 per tube.

They included famous brands such as Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Givenchy and Giorgio Armani.

Eighty percent, or 24 brands, contained mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons - or mosh - that can accumulate in the body and damage the liver.

Among them, 23 tested with short-chained mosh and five contained amounts ranging from 5.1 percent to 17.8 percent, exceeding the recommended level of 5 percent hydrocarbons in lip care products by Cosmetics Europe, a trade association for the cosmetic and personal care industry.

Four - including Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour196 a Demi-mot, and Gucci Rouge a Levres Voile Lip Colour 214 Call It A Day - contained higher amounts of long-chained mosh, which did not comply with the safety threshold recommended by the European Consumer Organization.

Council publicity and community relations committee chairman Victor Lam Hoi-cheung said yesterday that consumers should be aware of the health risks of ingesting mosh.

"Data from overseas studies indicate that long-chained mosh may accumulate in tissue such as adipose tissue, lymph nodes, the spleen and liver while their long-term health impact to humans is yet to be investigated," he said.

Studies on animals found both short-chained and long-chained mosh will accumulate in the liver and may be associated with the formation of hepatic granulomas-small abnormal clumps of cells that form in the liver

Council chief executive Gilly Wong Fung-han said mosh in lipsticks is "avoidable" and urged manufacturers to pay special attention to ingredient choices and processes.

"It is inevitable that frequent lipstick users ingest and accumulate such substances," she said. "Suppliers should take feasible measures to enhance product safety."

Chanel said the quality of its products comply with local cosmetic regulations and are safe for use.

But it is currently working on reducing the content of mosh in products.

Gucci said its lipstick complies with local cosmetic regulations, and the test result of the council was "not accurate" due to the method and equipment.

Allergenic heavy metals were also detected in over half of the brands, with nickel found in 12 and cobalt in 18.

Eight were detected with more than one heavy metal.

Wong suggested consumers with sensitive skin should avoid using lipsticks with heavy metals and stop using the product if there is redness, itching, swelling, dryness or peeling on the skin or lips.

"People who have the habit of licking their lips should also pay special attention to the ingredients of lipstick and avoid those with mineral oil substances," she said.

Wong called said consumers should wipe off their lipstick before eating or drinking.

A lipstick user named Wong, 23, who has bought more than 10 products, said she will continue using and buying them but will pay more attention to labels on products.

She told The Standard she had one lipstick that was detected with mosh and so was avoiding its use, especially when eating.

"Many lipsticks now are designed to prevent smudging or fading, so it is difficult to wipe them off with a tissue," Wong said, adding that she will avoid using non-fading lipsticks to reduce possible ingestion and accumulation of mosh.

She is very concerned about the heavy metals in lipsticks.

"Different from other cosmetics, it is easy to ingest lipstick," she said, "and I feel insecure to know I may ingest heavy metals when using the product."

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com