'Lipstick dump' was cleaned up after 30 minutes: Don't be stingy and pay with your health

On the morning of June 21, after discovering thousands of lipsticks thrown away at a landfill on a road in Thanh Oai district (Hanoi), in just 30 minutes, all of these lipsticks were picked up by people.

Many people went to the landfill to pick up lipstick after discovering someone had dumped it - Photo: Taken by locals

Regardless of the origin or expiration date, many people quickly brought the lipstick home and even shared it on social networks as an "unexpected bargain".

Many people pick up lipstick from the trash

However, this seemingly harmless action poses many serious health risks - especially when it involves cosmetics used directly on the lips, where the skin is thin, sensitive and small amounts can be swallowed every day.

According to Tuoi Tre Online 's observations at the scene, most of the lipsticks still had their labels and boxes intact, with no signs of having been used. Some products were labeled Black Rouge - a popular brand among young Vietnamese - mixed in with many products of unknown brand.

The fact that new, intact lipsticks were dumped en masse, with no one claiming ownership, has led many people to suspect that these may be counterfeit, expired, recalled, or violating quality regulations.

But what was more surprising was that right after that, many people went to the dump to "pick up the lipstick". Even late in the afternoon, there were still people coming to look for the remaining lipstick.

Lipsticks are quickly "color tested" and then thrown away in the landfill - D.LIEU

Warning of dangers from lipstick of unknown origin

Doctor Nguyen Tien Thanh, member of the Vietnam Dermatology Association, warned that cosmetics, especially lipstick, if their origin and expiration date are unknown, will become a major risk to the health of users.

In many cases, substances in cosmetics such as colorants, preservatives, fragrances... if changed over time can cause skin inflammation, acute allergic reactions such as swollen lips, rash, and even ulcers in the mucous membranes.

Additionally, because lipstick is often applied directly to the lips, users may accidentally swallow a small amount every day.

If the product is fake, poor quality or contaminated, the risk of heavy metal poisoning such as lead, mercury or bacterial infection causing mouth ulcers is entirely possible.

"With products of unknown origin, it is difficult to determine whether they are spoiled or contaminated, because deterioration is not always shown through color or smell. Even lipsticks that look brand new and unopened cannot be guaranteed to be safe without quality control.

Many types of fake lipstick are produced with floating materials, without inspection, and may contain toxic chemicals that consumers cannot detect with the naked eye," said Dr. Thanh.

Doctor Thanh recommends that people should not use "ownerless" cosmetics, whether they are picked up or bought at a cheap price.

Skin, especially the lips, is very vulnerable to exposure to unfamiliar chemicals. A few free lipsticks can cost you long-term skin irritation or worse, irreversible damage.

The incident of thousands of lipsticks being thrown away in the landfill not only raises questions about the legal responsibility of the individuals or organizations behind it, but also serves as a warning bell about easy consumer habits. Being stingy, greedy for cheapness or "picking up to use to avoid waste" in this case is no longer a small matter, but an act of gambling with one's own health.

Cosmetics, like food, need to have full information, clear expiration dates and must be properly preserved. No matter how beautiful a lipstick is, if it is not safe, it is only a double-edged sword for the user.

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bai-rac-son-bi-nhat-sach-sau-30-phut-dung-tiec-cua-de-roi-tra-gia-bang-suc-khoe-20250622112154749.htm