Is lipstick helping women get bigger breasts?

Posted on Jan 21st 2008 2:30PM by Adams Briscoe

There has been a "growing" trend among women in recent years regarding their cup size, and scientists are trying to figure out where it is coming from. People point to early puberty as being a potential cause, but there's also another angle worth considering: lipstick.

Chemicals found in lipstick (and other cosmetic products) contain a false hormone called xeno-oestrogen. This mimicking chemical is added to things that are being applied directly to the human body, thus absorbed into women's systems. The artificial hormone acts like oestrogen, which has been known to increase bust size (even in men).

Now it's obvious that lipstick alone is not the culprit. But when taken in small quantities every day from dozens of products, xeno-oestrogen seems like an easy target. Who knows for sure what's affecting it? There's a chance it has nothing to do with these external influences at all. Any women out there with more insight and experience in this area?

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27 Comment

Tags: breasts, cosmetics, hormones, lipstick, size

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Lori 1-25-2008 @ 10:27AM

We really need to watch how much xeno-estrogen we allow on or around our bodies!! It can throw off the delicate balance of natural hormones our bodies are already producing, thus causing hormone imbalances that result in many unpleasant symptoms... This can affect our reproductive organs, thyroid, adrenal glands, etc...

Butterfly 1-25-2008 @ 10:44AM

Doesn't it make you wonder what our government is really doing to protect us and make sure the products on the shelf are safe to use? Between the make up and the hormones injected into the meat we eat, it's no wonder kids are hitting puberty at younger and younger ages. Pretty soon, they'll be making training bras and special maxi pads for our 5 year olds!

One more reason to buy mineral make-up off of Etsy.com

nikkicookers 1-25-2008 @ 11:46AM

Makes you wonder if the government is trying to give us all big breasts.

nikki cook
http://fitconnect.com/lilnicky1234

Jennifer 1-25-2008 @ 12:02PM

I sure don't know about lipstick as a contributing factor, but it's certainly a clever diversion from a bigger problem. I can certainly say without a doubt that the hormones injected into our meat and chemicals in our processed foods are causing premature puberty in girls. 20 years ago, wenever saw the abundance of 13 year old girls with breasts the size of Pamela Anderson. We all know (or should) that there are all kinds of undesireable chemicals added to our processed foods, and they are extremely unhealthy. My husband works in the industry and has come across quite a bit of information from his contacts at various poultry and beef plants that are fully aware of these additives and their negative effects. Most are used to enhance the appearance of the product making it more attractive to consumers, but it comes at a cost. Organics fruits and vegetables and meats bought through local farmers and processors are definitely the wave of the future, and MUCH healthier. It's encouraging to see the growing trend moving to these naturally grown products. It's time to re-educate our children with the knowledge to grow their own food, and warn them about the dangers of BIG PHARMA.

Erika 1-25-2008 @ 12:57PM

it's funny u say that! I dont ever wear make-up and I've been a play lately that I have to wear make-up for, and my breast have been very large lately. I have never had so many people tell me how big my boobs were since the last time I was pregnant, and no, I'm not pregnant!

KarenX 1-25-2008 @ 8:10PM

The thing is, girls grow boobs in their teens and don't start wearing lipstick on a regular basis until they get their first office jobs, usually in their twenties. I just can't see how whatever it is in lipstick is influencing puberty.

I'm going to guess that cup sizes have changed over time to reflect market demands just like clothing sizes have changed. There is absolutely no information in this article about anything regarding women's bodies, and no source to any study. All you've learned is that lipstick contains xeno-estrogen. You know what else contains xeno-estrogen? Soy beans, lima beans, flax seed, and split peas are all phytoestrogens, and therefore xeno-estrogens.

Elizabeth 1-26-2008 @ 3:38AM

i can tell you why women's breast are bigger its because women are bigger than they have been in the last 50 years. i dont see a lot of women with 34C breast in a size 2,4 or 6; i have read the average size of american woman is size 14, its obesity leading to this statistic

park 2-02-2008 @ 2:26AM

Before women reading decide to apply more lipstick to get bigger breasts...

A study has linked fetal exposure to xenoestrogen Bisphenol A (which is a compound commonly found in plastics) to increased breast cancer in rats. Other studies have linked fetal exposure to other estrogenic compounds, case in point: DES, to increased breast cancer rates in women. And scientists believe that abnormal mammary gland development found in those exposed to these compounds is what contributes to increased breast cancer rates. This means that prepubescent girls (whose breasts are still developing) could be just as equally vulnerable and could be one of the causes of the increasing rates of early puberty in girls (because there's quite a lot of xenoestrogens in our environment).

So would I think twice before applying lipstick to get bigger breasts? I sure as hell would.

mobviously 1-25-2008 @ 3:25PM

the fact of the matter is that cosmetics companies want to further demean women & also boost sales with claims like this.

Veornica 1-25-2008 @ 3:51PM

Wow! i always thought that breast come from family genetic or sumthing. and that when we gain weight the boob become slightly larger. I barely wear makeup unless i feel like it. now a day, some lipstick can become toxic when using too much. first is birth control pills, lipsticks, foods, what next? clothes? when will the government ever wake up from their daydreaming of making money.

daniel 1-25-2008 @ 9:16PM

Wow, you went negative fast on here... Not really sure why I even stopped to check this out, but all the way to demeaning women within the first 4 posts... how many of you have hidden agendas with you comments... I thought that the post reflected a concern that the author had. It could be a marketing factor, but saying that plastics cause cancer didn't really stop anyone from using that either. Present the facts, but try an save some dignity for yourself when your commenting.

alberto1331 1-25-2008 @ 5:51PM

I just cant believe how many people just blame the government for the things that go wrong with our society. You know, most people care a lot more about themselves than the rest of the world as a whole. Thats a lock. Government are people. So are all the big private companies, which i think have a bigger impact on our decisions and intakes than the government ever will. Its in our nature to be selfish (honestly, would you rather have your mom/brother/best friend/husband/most loved one die, or other 20 people that you have never known?) , but some groups have taken that to the extreme. And its stupid just to go “government, goverment, goverment: stop it, and please help us!” Thats usually very unlikely, so were better off doing a little something ourselves to help at least our own environment. Its actually up to you...

P.S. Can anybody please tell me what the heck would the government want with bigger-breasted women?! Lol that one was just great.

hardabsfl 1-25-2008 @ 6:35PM

The government obviously wants the men to be happier!

happybunny22 1-25-2008 @ 6:52PM

wow thats just wow does this mean if guys put on lipstick then the'll get big boobs to

DeLaina 1-25-2008 @ 10:24PM

who cares!
i think we have bigger things in this world to worry about then some breasts getting a bit larger... this looks like a superfluous American argument, when indeed there are more pertinent issues crowding this world that are not being looked at... let's make a huge advertisement on the front page of AIM that says people died today because of dirty water!!!!!!!!

that would get some attention in america.. where in fact it happens every minute around the world.

seriously? lipstick?

amanda 1-26-2008 @ 12:05AM

I really just wanted to say, that I very rarely wear make-up and to say that that could be the reason that I have big boobs and the reason that I hit puberty before other girls, I just don't believe it. Especially since I knew plenty of girls who wore a crap-load of make-up all through high school and had no boobs at all.

hester 1-26-2008 @ 11:47PM

lipstick has been around since forever, however the inceasing cases of obesity has not... may, JUST maybe more fat = bigger boobies?!?!

fyi - boobies = mostly fat....that explains bigger boobies in men too....unless hundreds of men are secretly consuming lipstick for fun

lori 1-27-2008 @ 10:55AM

I haven't heard of such a thing...and I sell the BEST lipstick aroiund!!
It doesn't come off until you take it off!!
www.lalalips.com

Anna 1-28-2008 @ 4:44PM

Erica, could you please tell me what brand of lipstick you've used for the play? I have a teen daughter and want to be sure she doesn't purchase this brand...Please? Thank you so much,
concerned mom,
Anna

elizabeth 2-05-2008 @ 2:26PM

With the increase in obesity in the U.S. and the general fact that weight gain in women often increases breast size, the culprit is less likely lipstick. More likely, increased cases of obesity has led to an increased number of women with bigger boobs.

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