Category: Cosmetics safety

Studies have estimated that a regular lipstick user may ingest several pounds of lipstick over their lifetime through daily activities like eating, drinking, and licking their lips. This unintentional ingestion raises important questions about the ingredients in lip products and their potential health implications, especially during mealtimes.

According to a 2022 study, up to 43.8% of tested used lipsticks exceeded microbial limits, highlighting hygiene concerns with cosmetics. While ingesting cosmetic products does not typically cause food poisoning, prolonged exposure to contaminants or unhygienic practices pose entirely different health risks that consumers should understand.

A 2013 study found trace amounts of metals in various lip products, raising awareness of cosmetic ingredients that are incidentally ingested. This prompts a frequently asked question among consumers: **what happens if you eat a little bit of lip gloss?** For most people, the minimal, accidental amount ingested poses little to no threat, but understanding the ingredients is key to peace of mind.