On our lips we often put lipgloss to give a touch of light, color or simply hydrate our lips at best. They are products of everyday use, apparently harmless, but precisely because they end so easily in the mouth – between a smile, a chat or an involuntary licking – they should be particularly safe. Still, it is not always the case, as a new German test has shown.
The investigation, conducted by the magazine ÖKO-TEST, has analyzed 15 pink and bright lip gloss in search of controversial substances. The result? 14 out of 15 contained titanium dioxide (tio₂)a white pigment used to make the colors of the cosmetics brighter and more coprenti.
The risks of titanium dioxide in the lip gloss
The titanium dioxide has been prohibited as a food additive (E171) From the European Union in 2022, because according to EFSA, the authority for food safety, a genotoxic effect cannot be excluded – that is, harmful to DNA. The problem, however, is that his use is still allowed in cosmeticsincluding the Lipgloss that can be accidentally ingested.
What are the risks related to tio₂? According to the EU consumers’ scientific committee (SCCS), current knowledge is not enough to exclude the genotoxicity of titanium dioxide, especially in oral cosmetics such as rossetti and lip polish. The European Commission is waiting for a new evaluation by the same committee, scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.
But returning to the test, this discovered one more detail: in 5 of the 14 lipgloss analyzed, the tio₂ was present in nanometric forma particularly small and more easily absorbable dimension, but not reported on the label. The legislation obliges to indicate it only if more than 50% of the particles are in a dwarf form. Recent studies hypothesize, however, that these nanoparticles can cause intestinal inflammation, especially if ingested continuously.
The Marche di Lipgloss that contain titanium dioxide
Among the brands analyzed by ÖKO-TEST There are also well -known names in Italy:
All the products analyzed of these brands (you can see them in the infographics below) contain titanium dioxide, but despite this they obtain a total enough.
The only one who was “clean” was the Lipgloss of the Catrice brand, of the German producer Cosneva.
Even natural cosmetics, often preferred by those looking for safer alternatives, have not done well. Some of these, despite the certification, have been penalized by the presence of the Tio₂, ending up receiving only a “satisfactory” evaluation.
At the request for clarifications, only a company said she wanted to eliminate titanium dioxide in the future. Others replied that they will only do it if obliged by new laws or if there will be a strong pressure from consumers.
How the test was conducted
The test was performed on 15 pink lip gloss, preferably shiny, purchased in stores and online. The researchers verified the presence of titanium dioxide through the analysis of the list of ingredients (INCI) and, in the laboratory, they carried out a granulometric measurement to determine if the tio₂ was present in a dwarf form. Any risks related to involuntary ingestion were also evaluated, based on the doses potentially taken daily.
The estimated intake? Up to 57 milligrams of tio₂ per day, only through the regular use of lipgloss. A quantity that cannot be ignored, especially in light of emerging data.
