"Eating lipstick"?

I knew I wasn’t average! I consume none—as I use none. And I never kiss people wearing lipstick on the mouth!

When I worked with the big cats, we used to get whole chickens from a local processing plant (Purdue, I think). The older gentlemen who delivered the carcasses would keep a bucket in the back of their truck and toss the various “spillage” of guts and fat into it. During the summer, the mess was quite noxious. Then at the end of the week, when they had accumulated enough, it would disappear. Out of curiosity, I one day asked what they did with the offal. They would sell it to a cosmetics company to use in the production of makeup.

Disclaimer: I use no lipstick, gloss or chapstick. If I have dry lips, I use Vitamin E.

many of the colourings in average lipsticks are not good.

Quote from A Guide to Less Toxic Products
A woman may ingest more than four pounds of lipstick in her lifetime – even more if she wears it every day. Mainstream lipsticks are composed of synthetic oils, petroleum waxes and artificial colours. Coal tar dye colours are common allergens and also carcinogenic. Lipsticks also contain amyldimethylamino benzoic acid, ricinoleic acid, fragrance, ester gums and lanolin. Some dyes can cause photosensitivity and dermatitis

Mainstream lip gloss and balm may contain synthetic waxes and oils. Lip balm commonly contains phenol, a poisonous chemical also used as a pesticide, that can be absorbed by the skin. Reactions include vomiting, nausea, convulsion, paralysis, and even death. Very small amounts can cause rashes, swelling, pimples and hives. Lip gloss and balm also may contain plasticizers like microcrystalline wax and polyisobutane, an allergen. Phthalic anhydride is made from naphthalene, the pesticidal active ingredient in moth balls. Short-term skin exposure to naphthalene can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion and convulsions, and is linked to liver and kidney damage. Lip gloss for children often contains toxic ingredients like carcinogenic coal tar colours, parabens which are hormone-disrupters and allergens, and artificial flavour.

Sunscreens are frequently added to lip products, especially the benzophenones. Benzophenones and cinnamates are hormone disruptors and may cause hives and contact sensitivity.

Bleh. I never really thought about this before, but it definitely makes me think twice.

You can buy lip balms with little to no chemical compounds in them. That’s what I use, anyway.. so I guess I’m glad all I’m consuming are beeswax, shea butter, and mint oil.

I’m a Burt’s Bees kinda gal, so I have ingested much, much less lipstick than the national average. Most makeup makes me break out in general.

Vaseline is the leftover mess from oil production, so I don’t think you want to ingest that, either. I would go to the local health food store and pick up something plant-based. I’m sure if you Google around, there are plant-based lip colorings available, too!

What am I doing “wrong”? I don’t eat my lipstick! ‘Course the brand I use doesn’t come off, so that’s not an issue.

For lip balm, I like C.O. Bigelow’s.

Burt’s Bees for me! :)

The average person does not consume 1–2 pounds of lipstick yearly.

@petethepothead yeah, I don’t see how that’s possible, either.

I agree with Petey. I’d like to know where you heard that from, Triozoo.

here?
“depending on the use of the material” example: If a person were to apply lipstick once or twice on the daily bases, it’ll slowly rub off into the mouth while wearing it. Kissing, drinking (residue left on glass), eating, or simply licking your lips.

Average meaning the estimated/approximate amount… near middle? 23,28,19,0 = 17.5 average
I’m not suggesting you yourself have to be a consumer, notice the zero above, but the rounded fraction of the population. 1–2 pounds isn’t even a lot. Think of the weight.