Are you using lipstick and eating certain foods made of *crushed bugs?*

If they contain the ingredient "*Carmine*", then you probably are!!!

*Carmine: a red food and cosmetics coloring made of crushed bugs. The insects used to make carmine are called cochineal, and are native to Latin America where they live on cacti. Yes. bugs. They crush them up, and have a process to remove the insect body parts. Ewwwwwwww!*

Grab your favorite lipstick and see if this ingredient is in the list.

Carmine is the biggest reason why I avoid conventional products. How nasty can this get? Not only will you see this in cosmetics, but for some reason, carmine is added to everything from yogurt, ice creams, to fruit pies, soft drinks, cupcakes and donuts.

But did you know many ORGANIC companies also use carmine?

You might not always see it labeled as carmine, though, but as:

• "natural red 4"
• "crimson lake"
• CI 75470

*Companies that Surprised me and are known to include Carmine:*

• Honest Beauty
• Bare Minerals
• Burt's Bees
• Tarte
• Vapour Organic Beauty
• Physician's Formula
• Maybelline
• Revlon
• Wet & Wild
• NYX
• Lancome
• Yves Saint Laurent

Many proponents of carmine state that it is very stable and excellent for preserving the food or makeup, but come on! Many people can be allergic and have terrible side effects! Researchers are pushing for better labeling to keep consumers informed.

Interestingly, despite the background of this ingredient, the use of carmine in products is increasingly popular and the first choice for manufacturers. Which means, be wary of your cosmetics ingredients!

I am SO GLAD NONE of the products I use and recommend on this page contain this ingredient! Crunchi will never use these as they are certified vegan and disclose every single ingredient clearly!

©️NewLeafInspiredLiving

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43786055#:~:text=A%20staple%20of%20the%20global,is%20found%20in%20many%20lipsticks