Consumer watchdog DECO has found “traces of lead” and dangerous ingredients “derivatives of mineral oils and synthetic hydrocarbons” in three lipsticks on the market, writes TSF radio.
All red, the brands are Avril Le Rouge Hollywood 598, Mac Retro Matte Ruby Woo 707 and Kiko Kikoid Velvet Passion 05 Burgundy.
Even more worrying is the fact that the Avril brand presents itself as “natural and biological”.
Far from either of these descriptions, the components its lipstick shares with the two other brands is known in the industry as MOAH (standing for mineral oil aromatic compound), easily absorbed into the body and associated with cancer.
The three lipsticks have been found to contain MOSH and POSH too, each initials denoting mineral oil contaminants, in quantities “superior to what is considered safe”.
Says TSF: “MOSH, POSH and MOAH are used in cosmetics products as smoothing agents, skin protectors and regulators of viscosity. In spite of their usefulness, these components raise concerns, as they are essentially heavy metals. When they are ingested, which is very real in the case of lipsticks, they can carry a risk of genetic mutations and tumor”.
Passing the findings on to health regulatory authorities, DECO says legislation should be much more stringent, setting safety limits for the presence of MOSH, POSH and MOAH, so that the cosmetics market is better regualted.
