Post Update: NYX Lipstick Contains BHA, a Known Carcinogen and Dangerous Ingredient

My post about NYX Lipstick containing BHA and BHT from 2011 still receives quite a bit of traffic so I thought an update would be helpful for people who run across it. To summarize for new readers: NYX products are inexpensive but many contain ingredients that are known carcinogens, especially their lip products. Let me repeat that: Some NYX lipstick and lip gloss products contain BHA (a known carcinogen) and BHT (toxic for human immune systems) . 

What does BHA and BHT do?  Both of these are antioxidants and fragrance maskers. They keep products fresh and smelling nice.

From the Environmental Working Group

About BHA: BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) is a preservative and stabilizer; U.S. National Toxicology Program, a part of the National Institutes of Health, has classified BHA as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" based on evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. 

About BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a toluene-based ingredient used as a preservative in food and personal care products. Known human immune toxicant or allergen.

About TOLUENE: A volatile petrochemical solvent and paint thinner, toluene is a potent neurotoxicant that acts as an irritant, impairs breathing, and causes nausea. Mother’s exposure to toluene vapors during pregnancy may cause developmental damage in the fetus. In human epidemiological studies and in animal studies toluene has been also associated with toxicity to the immune system and a possible link to blood cancer such as malignant lymphoma. (Toluene is what makes nail polish smell good. Most polish companies removed Toluene from their products years ago.)

NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick - Contains Carcinogen BHA

Let's take a moment and reapply our lipstick. Having any second thoughts about NYX yet? I went through the NYX website's lip products and looked at the ingredients for all of their products. Here are the BHA and BHT winners for 2016.

• Butter Lipstick - BHT
• Butter Lipstick Sets 3, 4, 5 - BHA
• Macaron Lippies - BHA
• Matte Lipstick - BHA
• Plump It Up Lip Plumper - BHA
• Chunky Dunky Hydrating Lippie - BHA
• Extra Creamy Round Lipstick - BHA
• XTreme Lip Cream - BHA
• Glam Lipgloss Aqua Luxe - BHT
• Glam Lipstick Aqua Luxe - BHA
• High Voltage Lipstick - BHA
• Jumbo Lip Pencil - BHA
• Lip Primer - BHA
• Mega Shine Lip Gloss - BHT and Butylparaben
• Wicked Lippies - BHA

NYX does sell lip products that don't contain BHA or BHT. If they can formulate their new products without them, why can't they update the formulas for their older products that so many people purchase? Read your labels. As a consumer, you don't have to settle. Spend your money with companies who care about the health and safety of their customers.