Red chilli for hotness: Red hot chillies, also known as Byadagi chillies, are used in making lipsticks. A component called oleoresin oil is extracted from the pods of these chillies, which is used in the making of a lipstick. About 50 litres of oleoresin can be extracted from about 1 tonne of Byadagi chillies. Oleoresins are semi-solid extracts composed of a resin in solution that is obtained by the evaporation of solvent(s). Naturally, occurring oleoresins are also known as balsams. So, the next time your lipstick has a tingly feel or smell, you'll know it’s the Byadagi effect.
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Cochineal dye for the red lips: The cochineal is a scale insect, from which the natural dye carmine is derived, to give it that extra tinge of red hue to the lipstick. These beetles are drowned in hot water and ground to a fine powder before using it as an ingredient. The carminic acid can be extracted from the body and eggs of the insects, and then mixed with aluminium or calcium salts to make carmine dye, also known as cochineal. So, now you know the secret behind that beautiful red colour of your lipstick.
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Coal Tar for darker shades: Tar is not only used to asphalt roads, but it is also used on lipsticks for a dark appeal. Though there is a very small amount of coal tar in lipsticks, however, if used for long durations can cause cancer. The tar is used to darken shades and give a matte-like finish for your lips when applied.
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Fish scales for that extra glow: If you love glossy lipsticks, just remember the gloss comes from fish scales. When scales are layered on top of one another, they have a crystallised effect. If you find this crystalline substance in the ingredients list, you can be assured that your lipstick has fish scales. The silver shiny substance found in fish scales are often used in cosmetics to give them that glow and shimmer.
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Lead...never listed, but present: Though, this is never mentioned in the ingredients list, a contaminant of lead is always present in lipsticks. In a detailed study by the American Food and Drug Administration, it was found that almost 75% of lipstick brands prevalent in the market are contaminated with lead, and this includes leading brands like Maybelline and L'oreal.
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