Heavy metals in your lipstick, eyeliner could be dangerous for your fertility, here's how to stay safe

Lipsticks, moisturisers, eyeliners, and even the regular everyday make-up kit has always been popular with women. For many, these are not just beauty products; but means to express confidence and everyday care. However, not many know that many of these products are loaded with ingredients that have a huge impact on your health. Some of the most worrying of these are metalliferous, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic.

On paper, the percentage of these ingredients in your make-up products are minuscule. But these metals tend to accumulate in your body over time, and continued exposure can cause hormone imbalances, disrupt menstrual cycles, and even effect fertility.

Heavy metals in cosmetics can enter your body intentionally or unintentionally. Here are 3 ways:

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• Skin Assimilation: Particles of heavy metals enter your body when they are continually absorbed on your skin.


• Ingested: When using the lipstick/lip balm over time, it gets into your system (even in small amounts) through mouth ingestion, so lipsticks and lip balms can be absorbed by your body.


• Inhalation: Very loosely, two powders or sprays can aerosolise small particles (with heavy metals), which we then breathe in.

Dr Kalyani Shrimali, Clinical Director & Fertility Specialist, NovaIVF Fertility, Indore, lists the dangers of toxic chemicals in your cosmetics and suggests ways to stay safe.

Impact on fertility

Harmful effects of heavy metals on reproductive health last long. It can affect reproductive health in a number of ways:

• Hormonal disruptions: Toxic metals such as lead and cadmium, may disturb the levels of progesterone and estrogens in our body directly associated with the process of ovulation regulation.

Mercury exposure damages ovarian follicles that lead to a numerical loss of the quantity and quality of eggs available for ovulation, therefore reducing a woman's likelihood of having a natural conception over a given period.

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• Increase miscarriage risks: Some heavy metals can increase miscarriage risk and affect future foetal growth.

• Endocrine disruptors: Apart from heavy metals, cosmetics also include chemicals such as phthalates and parabens, which are known to be endocrine disruptor substances that mimic or block hormones, which can also cause irregular cycles, infertility, and pregnancy complications.

How to identify dangerous cosmetics

Watch out for:

• Ingredient Warning Signs: Lead Acetate (found in some hair dyes), Mercury compounds (thimerosal, calomel), Cadmium pigments, Chromium and arsenic in traces.


• Super-real: Too-bright (neon, etc.) or unusually fast-fading colours are contaminated at higher rates.


• Cheap Certification: No safety seals, or no third-party labs tested it for safety on the package.


• Absence of Batch Number or Expiry date:

How to protect yourself and your fertility

• Ensure that the product is certified by Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS), ISO, or a reputed third party laboratory.


• Opt for low pigment products: Especially for products around the eyes and mouth. The facial skin absorbs differently, and the skin surrounding the eyes and lips has a higher absorption potential. Therefore, choosing products with minimal/slight colour payoff would be advantageous.


• Fragrance: Products with strong fragrances are bad when it comes to hormone disruptors. Less hazardous options include unscented or products with natural fragrances.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.