Your favourite lip balm could be toxic
![Is your lip balm toxic? [Photo: Burst via Pexels]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GVzekKmnv4Lk45I2Of3R3Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/45e2b23ccec0546de17c3588e4b0ebfe)
Lip balm is a beauty must, particularly at this time of year as the weather turns a little chilly and our lips get a little chapped.
And let’s face it chapped lips are never a good look
But lip balm addicts are being warned by a leading French consumer group about the dangers of smearing on the salve, after tests found that certain balms contain toxic substances.
The tests, carried out by UFC Que-choisir, revealed that around half of the 21 products examined were found to contain potentially harmful ingredients.
And that includes lip balms from large cosmetic brands such as Garnier, Carmex and La Roche Posay.
The consumer group went on to warn consumers to avoid the balms, which were found to contain traces of carcinogenic substances.
![Garnier and Carmex products are all on the toxic list [Photo: Pixabay via Pexels]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/D3DUjy3YU1_JmUpqIY3EBw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/0a873f2378286923a40ee49a6d06fcd8)
While some of the balms also contained an “extremely undesirable” amount of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons, commonly referred to as Mosh, which can inflame the lymph nodes and liver when ingested, reports The Local.
So are we all to give up smearing our lips with salve?
Not necessarily! As on the upside, testers also looked into which lip balms might be the safest on offer and found that Lidl’s “Cien” lip balm – at just 75 cents (or around 66p) was deemed to be a safe, non-toxic bet for softening your lips.
To make sure your pout doesn’t come at a toxic trade-off, the lip balms consumers were urged to avoid were:
Macadamia lip balm from Yves Rocher
Trésors de miel nourishing lip balm from Garnier Ultra Doux
Original classic care from Labello
Classic moisturising lip balm from Carmex
Nultric transforming balm for dry lips from La Roche Posay
Homéostick from Boiron
Cold cream nourishing balm from Avène
Nutrition balm for dry lips from Le petit Marseillais
Hydrating lip balm from Aptonia
Hydrating lip balm from Uriage
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