Let’s face it; when your girlfriend leans in for a kiss, you’d be a fool to refuse her ruby-lipped pout. Who in his right mind could think of asking his girlfriend to wipe off her lipstick before a kiss, right? What you are about to read may destroy the romance of spontaneous kisses, but here goes nothing. A single swipe of her favourite ruby lippie may be loaded with chemicals and toxic metals like lead, which means, kissing your girlfriend with her lipstick on may have some unappetising consequences. Some of these chemicals may enter your system when you French kiss her.  So should she be wiping off her lipstick before kissing? Here’s what you should know. Can I Get STD From Oral Sex? How to Stay Safe.

What Goes Into a Lipstick?

Lipstick is a cosmetic pigment applied to the lips. Most companies may claim that their products come enriched with natural ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, beeswax, etc. But what they don’t tell you is about the cocktail of chemicals that also go into it. Aluminium, cadmium, chromium, manganese and lead are some of them. The darker the shade, the more the lead.

What are the Side Effects of Ingesting Lipstick?

A reported titled Poison Kiss that some of the biggest premium brands of lipsticks in the market exceeded the USDA limit for lead. Lead is a known neurotoxin, which causes learning disabilities, language problems, lowered IQ and increased aggression. In men, it can cause reduced fertility, hormonal changes and delayed puberty. Applying lipstick several times a day can increase the exposure and the risk of health problems. Can You Get Pregnant If You Have Unprotected Sex During Periods?

Should You Wipe Off Lipstick Before Kissing?

In the words of a Redditor: “I've never come across a guy who will NOT kiss a girl because of lipstick or lipgloss...” And we agree. A 2015 article that examined the health effects of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and chromium in lipsticks revealed that there were no significant non-carcinogenic health risks through lipstick consumption for the prolonged exposure of 35 years. So an occasional kiss shouldn’t be a cause for worry for men.

However, if you want to stay on the safer side, ask your girlfriend to wipe off her lipstick before you steal a kiss. It won’t make for a great “first kiss” story to tell your children in the future, but hey, safety comes at a price.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 03, 2019 07:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).