*Source – CLEO Austraia.

Bad news make-up lovers, a new study reveals that your lipstick and gloss could contain troubling levels of metal.

Researchers from the University of California Berkeley have found concentrations of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, chromium, aluminium and five others in a range of lip products.

The experts warn that these products that give us that to-die for pout contain high enough levels of metals to raise health concerns.

“We looked at nine heavy metals and found that all of them were present in most of the lipsticks, but not necessarily at really high levels,” study author Katharine Hammond.

“Low levels of metals may not create a risk, but as the exposure increases, the damage can increase.”

Overexposure to these metals over time can lead to health problems such as neurological damage and increased cancer risk. Scary hey?

To come to this conclusion, researchers polled teenage girls aged 14-19 to discover the most common lip products that they use. They then tested eight different lipsticks and 24 lip glosses to investigate the metals they contain.

The brands were not revealed so it’s unconfirmed whether or not these products are available in Australia.

Researchers discovered that an average lipstick user might get 20 percent or more of their maximum safe daily intake of aluminium, cadmium and manganese just from their lippie.

What’s more troubling, average use of some of the products could also expose people to excessive amounts of chromium, which is linked to lung cancer and stomach ulcers.

But before you go chuck away your new tangerine lipstick, Hammond cautioned that the study is merely a first step that requires further investigation.

“I don’t think that people should go into a panic, or abandon lipstick, but I do think this is a concern,” says Hammond.

If you are worried about lead in your lipsticks, experts recommend opting for products that are ‘Certified Organic’ and carry a logo from a body such as Australia Certified Organic (ACO), Organic Food Chain (OFC) or The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASSA).

Try brands like Bloom, Adorn, L’Occitane, Jurlique, Trilogy, Grown, Aseop and Kora, that all have a range of organic skincare and cosmetics.

*For the original article click here.

“This product gave me fabulous coverage while still feeling like my own skin. I loved the subtle sparkle in the powder that made my skin look luminescent without sheen. I felt as if I wasn’t wearing any makeup at all yet it gave such great coverage over my capillaries and brown spots, resulting in a flawless even complexion. I think I have admitted before that sometimes I don’t get around to taking my makeup off before bed – so when I found out that Adorn foundations are toxic-free formulations and non-comedogenic, which means they will not clog the pores, I didn’t feel guilty about sleeping with it on my face. It also provides natural anti-ageing SPF 15+ sun protection that guards against both UVA and UVB rays. So it is close to perfect in my book. Applied with Adorn’s unique flat-top kabuki brush, application was effortless, while gently exfoliating and stimulating my skin, resulting in renewal and regeneration. The brush can be used wet or dry!” – Madonna Melrose, Beauty Editor.

Thank you for the amazing feedback! To check out our Loose Foundation for yourself click here. Use with the best selling Kabuki Brush for the best application.

For more information visit www.adorncosmetics.com.au or email info@adorncosmetics.com.au to book a one on one consultation at Adorn.

Thank you Heart Beauty Magazine! x

Whether you are in need of some extra makeup tips or beginning a cleaner lifestyle with natural cosmetics, contact us now to book a seat in our upcoming Complexion Workshop!

The class is a perfect way to start or grow your journey with Adorn. Learn how to create a flawless natural look ideal for your own individual skin tone, how to use our multi- purpose products, and secret makeup tips and tricks along the way!

The class is $60 per person,which is redeemable on our best selling 7 Piece Brush Set!

Due to the class’ intimate sizing, seating is limited. Contact us at marketing@adorncosmetics.com.au to reserve your seat or ask us any questions! We look forward to hearing from you!

I think it’s fair to say that most of us now know that some Foundations on the market suffocate and congest the skin?

But how and why?  Certain ingredients (listed below) can be found in some makeup and skin care products and are classified as Comedogenic; meaning the ingredients sit on your skin quite like cling wrap, preventing the skin from breathing, allowing natural oil flow and trapping sweaty bacteria. Resulting in blocked pores, uneven skin texture, acne, blackheads and form some skin sensitivity..

Here is a few common ones to avoid-

• Lanolin

• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

• Talc

• Mineral Oil

• Dimethicone

• Kaolin (clay)

Of course Adorn’s foundations are not only Toxic Free but will allow the skin to function as skin should!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s secret…

Artificial fragrances. Just as the name suggests, they are synthetic scents used to to impart or mask the odour of another ingredients used in the formulation of a product. Eek! Beware of the term ‘unscented’ too…some of these products may even contain masking fragrances!

Did you know there may also be other hazards hiding behind the phrase “synthetic fragrance”? These may include:

• Phthalates
• Allergens
• Synthetic musks
• Neurotoxins

So, what does this mean for your skin? Possible risk of skin sensitivity or aggravating existing sensitivities. Stay clear of Artificial Fragrances especially if you suffer from watery or itchy eyes, red or irritated skin, Rosacea, Psoriasis or Eczema, or if your skin is dry or dehydrated!

What is a better alternative?  Use natural fragrances such as essential oils.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s secret fact….

For years, shades of red lipstick have been adored by women all over the world.   You may however think twice when choosing to wear some of the brighter reds in the future because the red pigment in some lipsticks is created by using crushed ‘lady bugs’, an ingredient commonly called Carmine. Ew!

What is Carmine? Okay, so Carmine is NOT the cute little ladybugs as we know them, but in fact is the shell of the dried female insect - Coccus cactir (cochineal).  It is prepared by boiling the powdered scale insect bodies in ammonia or a sodium carbonate solution to get a bright red dye. Now we love a statement lippie but a bug lippie… We thinky not!

 Other names of Carmine to look out for (not just in cosmetics)?

• Crimson Lake
• Cochineal
• Natural Red 4
•  C.I. 75470
•  E120

Can Carmine only be found in red lipstick? No! its in all types of cosmetics and even food and drink.Other cosmetic products to keep a closer eye on are such products as eye shadow or eye liner.

Grossed out? Then try Adorn’s Perfect Pout lipsticks or glosses – bug free!

Keep posted for tomorrow’s secret shocking fact…

More is often NOT better as bulking agents/fillers dilute the colour/pigment (requiring more of the product to create the desired colour or coverage) and can cause skin irritation, congestion and dryness – especially so for those already with sensitive skin.

Okay, so what do you look out for? One of the most common bulking agents is Talc, which is known to clog pores and dry out the skin – think babies bums! Talc has long been used in makeup because it absorbs perspiration and has a smooth, silky texture that makes cosmetics seem easier to apply.

What are other fillers to stay clear of?

• Rice Powder
• Bismuth Oxychloride (by-product of refined lead and copper.) (In addition can cause the skin to itch, especially in the warmer months.)
• Kaolin (another word for Clay – think clay masks used to dry out the skin.)
• Corn Starch

 Sneaky, hey! Keep tuned for tomorrow’s next shocking fact…

Did you know a pearlescent substance found in fish scales is sometimes included in the ingredients of some makeup brands, in particular lipstick, to create a shimmer in the product?

According to ‘Wikipedia’, more than 50% of lipsticks made in the United States contain pig fat!! Yucko!

If that hasn’t got your tummy churning and you running to check your cosmetic labels right away, then consider this…(even if you are not a makeup wearer and only wear the old swipe of gloss or balm) a woman can ingest up to 2 kilograms of makeup in one year – 500 grams of that just on your lips!

Now that’s NOT what we call lip smacking good!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s shocking fact…