Reference summary — not medical advice or a personal risk estimate.
Lipstick
Coloured lip cosmetics. Historically flagged for trace heavy metals from mineral pigments.
Also known as: lip color, lip balm, lip gloss
What this does NOT mean
Finding a factor documented in this product category does not establish that ordinary use of lipstick causes cancer. It means research — through regulatory testing, recall records, or IARC review — has found that chemical present in this category. Whether it matters for you depends on formulation, dose, frequency, and route of exposure.
What has been documented
- Cadmium and cadmium compoundsIARC Group 1IARC Group 1Contamination · medium confidence
Trace cadmium detected in some pigment-based lip products.
Evidence source: FDA testing records
How to read this page
A factor appearing on this page means it has been documented in this product category — through EPA / FDA testing, IARC monographs, or regulatory recall records. Whether it presents a meaningful personal risk depends on the specific formulation, dose, and how you're exposed. Click any factor to read what science actually says about it, and where.