Lipstick is the most used cosmetics all over the world. Itenjoyed its global share $5760 million in 2016 and expected to reach $8670million in 2021. To provide a safe, non-toxic and eco-friendly substitute to syntheticcolours, the Scientists of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bio resource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) have extractednatural colours and dyes from the natural occurring vegetables and plantssources.

The main concern in natural colours is thestability. To overcome this issue natural colours were stabilized by naturalmethods and used for preparation of beauty enhancing and health protectingcosmetic composition i.e. Herbal Lipstick. It is prepared in different shadeslike cherry red, pink, purple and orange by use of natural colours derived fromvegetable and plants sources and blended with different essential oils incosmetically suitable base materials. 

These herbal lipsticks have potential tobeautify the texture and shade of lips and to provide health promoting andprotective effects. According to Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, “Thedeveloped technology provides a process for preparation of herbal lipstick andhas great market potential with additional health promoting effects”.  

Cosmetics are used by different classes ofpeople worldwide for beautification since ancient time. However, during lastfew decades, there has been tremendous increase in use of cosmetics. The dailyuse of cosmetics may lead to localized skin problems and the harmful effectsare caused by skin or oral absorption of some chemical substances. The toxicelements are related to mineral pigments which are used as colouringagents.  

Numerous cosmetics used daily are applied invery sensitive areas like lips where the absorption of toxic material is veryhigh. Lipstick is the common cosmetic item worn by women in their day-to-daylife. It is a product holding primary ingredients like waxes, pigments and oilsthat imparts shading, texture and softness to the lips. Fragrances andpreservatives are additionally included, to prevent lipstick from becomingrancid. 

Synthetic colours and dyes used in lipstickmight be responsible for various allergies, skin irritation, skindiscoloration, dermatitis, neurotoxicity and cancers. However, due to increasedawareness in the consumers, the concern towards quality of products has beenamplified. “Nowadays, natural colours and dyes become important commodities intoday’s global forethought because of hazardous effects of synthetic dyes tohuman, animals as well as to environment. These lipsticks may provide asolution to all these problems” said Dr Kumar.

(India Science Wire)

Twitter: @ashajyoti11

 

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