Cadmium is a heavy metal that is often utilized as a yellow or orange pigment in color cosmetics. However, emerging studies show that all brands and shades of lipsticks are cadmium-contaminated. One concerning study found that more than 70% of lipsticks analyzed contained Cadmium concentrations above the FDA acceptable limit of 3mg/kg.
Cadmium is often found in cosmetic lipsticks. The more concerning issue is that cadmium is found at levels that are much higher than what is considered a safe toxic exposure. Because cadmium is a heavy metal, the body poses a serious health challenge after years of baseline exposure due to its tendency to bioaccumulate. Once it is absorbed, it does not break down or leave the system.
Generally, the health effects associated with chronic exposure to cadmium are very serious. These include kidney damage, lung damage, bone disorders, hormonal dysfunctions, and cancer in more advanced stages of chronic exposure. Cadmium is officially classified as a human carcinogen, which means that with daily use of seemingly harmless cosmetics such as lipsticks, the user could become a victim of long-term health damage.
As frequent users ourselves, it is perplexing why these ingredients continue to be used in the products we rely on on a daily basis. From a consumer’s perspective, it is mandatory to fight for products with better disclosure.
