Laneige lip masks

[Thereseeee]

🚩⚠️ Heyy! I'm new to this group, but I just wanted to let y'all know that the Laneige Lip Mask contains BHT, fragrance, and parfum. (Those are are just some of the red flags) Those ingredients have been linked to cancer, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, etc. Just be mindful of what you're putting on your lips! 🚩

[Thereseeee]

@CamilleSheridan, I actually have not tried the glow balm, but i purchased the lip mask a couple days ago. I was curious what was in the mask, so I looked here on the Sephora website...

[CamilleSheridan]

Hi, I use this lip balm every day, and I don't feel different

[WinglessOne]

Hey @Thereseeee ! It’s definitely good to be mindful about cosmetic ingredients. That includes learning about ingredients from multiple sources (chemists, dermatologists, scientific journals/clinical studies, non-biased ingredient databases like INCIdecoder, etc.), because there are a lot of myths, misinterpretations, and fear mongering floating around about lots of ingredients. 

BHT: I think you’re confusing it with butylated hydroxyanisole, aka BHA*. If I recall correctly, California lists BHA as a carcinogen. But the FDA (Federal Food & Drug Administration) has deemed BHA safe when used at or below a specific %. Same goes for BHT. 

Also, the studies that say those ingredients are dangerous were conducted on rodents. Scientists orally fed these ingredients to rodents; they didn’t apply them to their skin. And the amounts they fed were much higher than the amounts found in cosmetics. 

*Not to be further confused with beta hydroxy acid, which is also abbreviated as BHA. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid. 

Fragrance and parfum (they’re basically the same thing): can you cite a scientific study that shows fragrance ingredients/components are linked to cancer, developmental toxicity, or reproductive toxicity? I’m not asking to be snarky; I’m genuinely curious because I often study up on skincare ingredients and clinical data, so I’d like to read a study on this if one’s available. 

I’m not defending fragrance overall, mind you. My facial skin hates nearly all essential oils (especially lavender) and can’t handle many fragrance components (limonene, linalool, etc.) in one product, so I tend to avoid fragranced skincare. Fragrance is a known skin sensitizer for some people (like me). But I don’t think I’ve heard about fragrance being a carcinogen or disrupting reproduction. 

Bear in mind that “linked to cancer” doesn’t automatically mean an ingredient can cause cancer if applied to human skin. Drinking too much water can cause water poisoning (water intoxication), but that doesn’t mean applying water to human skin can also cause water intoxication. Water is also linked to drowning—if it gets into your lungs, not if it’s just applied to skin. 

[Thereseeee]

@WinglessOne, I hate to keep this going, but both BHA and BHT have potential risks of causing cancer… I have researched about this many times, and even my doctor and dermatologist have said this 😉🙃

[WinglessOne]

@Thereseeee  I didn’t say BHA or BHT can’t possibly cause cancer. I said: 

1. Some people confuse BHA with BHT. 
2. The FDA says BHA and BHT are safe in products when used at or below a certain amount. “The dose makes the poison.” 

I also have a dermatologist. I haven’t asked him specifically about BHA in cosmetics, but I’m sure I can guess his answer, based on things I’ve asked about many other ingredients and treatments over the years. He’d most likely cite the FDA first, and then remind me that “[ingredient] is linked to cancer” does not necessarily mean [ingredient] will cause cancer when applied topically; it depends on the clinical study (or studies) done, and how those studies were conducted (was ingredient studied on humans or animals; was it fed, injected, or applied topically—and if the latter, was the application site then placed under occlusion; were other variables involved that could affect the likelihood of cancer; etc.). Also requires proper interpretation of the study results—and I mean the full study, not just the abstract summary. 

If your derm and doctor have recommended you avoid all products containing BHA and BHT, then by all means, follow their advice. I’m not a medical doctor, and I’m guessing you aren’t either. I suspect my own docs won’t tell me to avoid all those products, especially those made by brands that have good research & dev track records since they’re most likely to formulate things per the FDA’s guidelines. 

EDIT: added BHT to the first sentence and 2nd list item. 

[Thereseeee]

Heyy @WinglessOne ... I looked on the website and it says the lip mask does contain BHT. I know someone who did unfortunately  get cancer from BHT, but it is unlikely. Using BHT on your lips and face does increase the risk to cancer though... Also, I hate to be rude, but you're saying BHT is not bad for you?! Sorry... I didn't quite get what you were trying to say there 😉🙃😊

[WinglessOne]

@Thereseeee  Oh, I didn’t mean the lip mask doesn’t contain BHT. I meant some people say “BHT causes cancer” when they really mean “BHA causes cancer.” BHT is butylated hydroxytoluene. BHA is butylated hydroxyanisole. 

Sorry to hear about your friend’s cancer diagnosis. 😞 

“Also, I hate to be rude, but you're saying BHT is not bad for you?!” I’m saying the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says BHT is safe when used at or below a specific amount. The old saying “the dose makes the poison” applies here, just like it applies to many other ingredients that are toxic or otherwise dangerous if used in high amounts. You can find safety thresholds for various cosmetic and food ingredients at the FDA’s site, if you’re curious.