Lipstick is a cosmetic or make up
for ladies worn on the lip, at least in our times. This post wants to find out whether in the
process of making lipstick, and in its usage the natural environment is
compromised. In other words this post wants to share with you whether the lipstick
you put on for your man is environmentally friendly during its manufacture or
in usage, or both. To have a clean and balanced natural environment
sustainably, as espoused by this blog, such scrutiny is a necessity. To do so I
should start by going through the materials used in making lipstick and how
they are processed, and thereby point out the environmental issue, then the way
to a green lipstick.
MATERIALS
Some of the materials needed for
the making of lipstick are oil, wax, antioxidants and emollients. I should take
the materials one at a time for dilation as follows:
OIL
Oil is a slippery liquid
substance or a substance that can be turned into that slippery liquid. There
are different types of oil. The different types of oil are oil paint which is
used by artists, black oil containing hydrocarbons like petroleum etc. and
vegetable oils that are derived from plants.
The oil used in making lipstick
is vegetable oil and mineral oil. The types of vegetable oil used in making
lipstick are olive oil and cocoa butter, there are other types of oil used but
for the purposes of this post I am sticking with the two types mentioned here. To
get the olive oil, the olive fruit is crushed into a paste. The paste is then
churned to make for the easy separation of the oil. Cocoa butter (theobroma
oil) is a vegetable fat extracted from the cocoa bean. Mineral oil is an
extract from petroleum.
Olive oil, for example, is used
as moisturizer, cleanser and antibiotic in skin care.
WAX
Wax gives lipstick its solid
structure. Some types of wax used in the making of lipstick are beeswax, candelilla
wax and ozokerite. Beeswax is produced by honey bees. Ozokerite (earthwax) is
got from the ground (mined). It has a high melting point. Candelilla wax is
extracted from the leaves of the candelilla tree. The wax does not dissolve in
water.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants are molecules (enzymes)
that prevent the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation results in the damage
of cells in living organisms. Antioxidants prevent the damage of cells in
living organisms. Antioxidants are used in skin care, to reverse the wrinkling
of the skin. Examples of antioxidants are vitamin C and vitamin E. Sources of
antioxidants are fruits and vegetables.
EMOLLIENTS
Emollients are moisturizers which
come in the form of cream, lotions etc. Emollients help keep the skin moist and
flexible thus preventing cracks. Cream, for example, is made up of water and
fat, among others.
ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUE
In the making of lipstick, I have mentioned
some of the ingredients used. All the ingredients input their characteristics
into the lipstick, making it what it is. However, in the making and use of lipstick
some environmental issues crop up as follows.
Manufacture:
Mineral oil is one of the requirements for the
making of lipstick. The mineral oil as I have indicated is extracted from
petroleum. The extraction of oil and use of petroleum have problems for the
environment in connection with greenhouse gas emission and pollution (oil
spillage).
Another ingredient for the manufacture of
lipstick is ozokerite or earthwax which is extracted from the earth (mined).
The environmental issue with mining is the loss of species and biodiversity,
and uprooting of ecosystems.
Cocoa butter, as indicated, is extracted from
cocoa. To expand cocoa plantations forests are cleared, resulting in loss of
species and biodiversity, ecosystems and dislocation of local communities.
Usage:
In October, 2007, a consumer group in the
United States, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, found in a study that 60% of
lipsticks, particularly red lipstick, contained traces of lead. The traces
exceeded the limit set for lead in candy by the US Food and Drug
Administration. Lead if it is ingested or inhaled can be poisonous to humans
and animals. Lead damages the nervous system and causes brain disorders.
PARTING SHOT
The making of lipstick brings together
different ingredients, each with its contributing property. Wax gives the
lipstick its solid structure. Oil gives the lipstick its moisturizing and
cleansing properties. Antioxidants give the lipstick properties that prevent
the skin from getting wrinkled. Emollients give the lipstick properties that
prevent the lip from cracking. This is how we get to make women glamorous and
romantic.
However, this is done at environmental
costs of greenhouse gas emission, pollution and damage to biodiversity and
ecosystems. Lead is found in traces in the lipstick, above acceptable limit. To
make green lipstick, that is lipstick that is environmentally friendly, we
should be more inclined towards using environmentally friendly materials and
processes in making lipstick, and its patronage. For example, instead of using
mineral oil, we should be using more olive oil. That way, as earthlings, we
should be on course to a sustainable clean and balanced natural environment.
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipstick
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