Frankfurt (dpa) - A test of lipsticks commissioned by a German
consumer protection magazine has found more than half of them to be
potential health hazards.
Oeko-Test (Eco-Test) reported in its August issue that of the 306
lipsticks tested - 21 different brands and various shades of colour -
121 had received a failing grade and 44 a grade of "unsatisfactory."
The magazine said many of the lipsticks contained paraffins and
synthetic substances such as silicones that could gradually be
"licked off" the lips and accumulate in the body.
The lipsticks which got positive assessments were mainly from
makers of natural cosmetics and contained no aniline, a suspected
carcinogen. The laboratory that conducted the test found no
tartrazine in these lipsticks either, a dye that the magazine said
was thought to cause intolerance reactions such as itching and a rash
if it entered the body.
One of the lipsticks deemed "very good" is from a discount
drugstore chain and much cheaper than the natural cosmetics.
Oeko-Test said that lipsticks of a single brand were not identical
in quality. Sometimes certain shades contained potentially harmful
dyes while others did not.
Copyright 2009 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH