Make-up brand Lime Crime has been contacted by the FDA about its Velvetines Liquid Matte Lipstick in the shade Red Velvet. In a warning letter, the FDA said that several colouring agents used in the products were not approved for use in lipsticks in the US.
The lipstick's ingredient labels state that this product contains ferric ferrocyanide and ultramarines. While these colouring agents have been approved for use in externally applied cosmetics, this ruling does not apply to lipsticks as they come into direct contact with the mouth. Products applied to the lips can be absorbed by mucous membranes inside the mouth. While not toxic, these two ingredients could potentially be irritants if used in lipsticks.
The FDA requested that the brand responds by either removing the ingredient from its products or by relabelling the lipsticks if this ingredient has not been used. Alternatively, if these products are not intended for use on the lips, the products should be labelled as such.
Lime Crime has since responded to the claims. In a statement, shared on its website, the company said: "Lime Crime has been in active communication with the FDA regarding the letter. As per FDA, Lime Crime is complying with the request to provide documentation demonstrating that these ingredients are not part of the Velvetines formula. We are confident that once the FDA reviews the proof, they will understand that it's simply a labelling error and consider the case resolved."
Launched by Doe Deere in 2008, Lime Crime has previously attracted controversy on a number of occasions. The brands's vegan branding was previously called into question over its use of carmine and beeswax, which were later removed from the range and earlier this year the company suffered a credit and data breach.