For a lot of lipstick enthusiasts feeding their addiction can be a task. Quite a few women suffer from either lipstick allergies or lipstick that irritates their sensitive skin. Finding a lipstick that is hypoallergenic is fairly easy, however, finding one that also does not irritate sensitive skin is a bit of a chore.
Below you will find common irritants to lips and some recommendations for lipsticks you can try. However, the best way to find a lipstick for you is to try them and try to narrow out the ingredients that are hurting you.
Most of the time lipstick that irritates lips is from and undiagnosed lipstick allergy. There are several common allergens that are used in lipstick production. The most common allergen is Carmine, which is made from ground up beetle shells. Carmine is used in most lipsticks. However, some companies use fish, shellfish, or other seafood derivatives in their lipstick. So if you have a shellfish allergy, that can often be the cause.
Allergens and Irritants:
Try to find a hypoallergenic lipstick or one that is naturally made as opposed to those made from animal byproducts. Though there are some cases in which people are allergic to the natural lipsticks they think will not irritate their lips. An allergy to beeswax or coconut oil is especially tricky. In those cases, you may want to trade your natural lipstick in for something more chemically based. As it turns out, sometimes natural is not always best, so keep that in mind.
If you suffer from an allergy, then you will most commonly experience swelling in the lips. Itching, redness, or in rare cases, blackness of the lips can occur. Blisters, boils, and anaphylaxis can also occur in bad cases.
However, if you do not have an allergy and your lips still become irritated it may still be an ingredient in the lipstick. Some lipsticks have essential oils in their product that can irritate fussy skins.
The best way of finding a brand that works for you is taking suggestions from others (like this article!) and using the process of elimination. If you notice a common ingredient in the lipsticks that are hurting your lips, try to find a lipstick without it.
It takes time, to be sure, but eventually you will find your brand.