I couldn't have this. Fine, I've eaten pulverized crickets and grasshoppers as a chef's alternative for sustainable food, but that was nourishment. This is beauty, and that's definitely not cruelty free! If I see a bunny sign on the side of a box, I expect honesty and integrity in ingredients.

So that's the sad truth.

Carmine is also hidden by these common names: carmine lake, natural red 4, C.I. 75470, or E120.

So look for it in your next red lipstick you decide to purchase or grab a red lipstick you currently own and check the ingredients to see if carmine is listed. You will be shocked at what brands use this ingredient and even more so when you check their line and they claim they are "vegan and cruelty free".

I've attached a blown up picture above if you haven't figured out that's a picture of what this poor bug looks like. You're welcome! It's for your viewing pleasure. Doesn't he just look so yummy? *shudders* *pukes* *passes out*

At Fluency Beauty, we decided not to use this ingredient. Instead our red coloring, along with all of our pigments across our collection, is derived from vegetables. For our reds, it's mostly root vegetables like beets, radish, and potatoes. Pretty cool if you ask me.

I mean if the picture above doesn't gross you out enough to make you change your mind...might I just steer you in the direction of lipsticks that don't have this ingredient? There's a lot of alternatives and options out there these days. Carmine is just the go to quickie, because it's just one of those things that's tossed in there like GMOs because it's cheap and easy, and doesn't need a second look or thought.

I am.Brave. - Fluency Beauty's signature red multistick for eyes, lips, face is thoughtfully formulated and crafted with premium ingredients (colored only from beets and radish) that are not only good for your body's internal system, but also for your external skin.

This is something our brand is very proud of. Ingredients that are thoughtful, safe, and natural.