There's a bug in your lipstick

It's a little known ingredient but it's been used for centuries and is in a lot of the products we use and eat everyday. Cleopatra used to grind it up to make her lipstick and today it is still used in many lipsticks to create those beautiful red, pink, and purple hues we all love. It's called carmine or more specifically cochineal extract.

So what is cochineal extract? It is a substance derived from the ground bodies of female cochineal beetles, and it is used in cosmetics, ice creams, yogurts, fruit drinks, and candy products, to name a few.

Cosmetic, food and beverage manufacturers that color their products with carmine and cochineal extract must now declare the ingredients on the label under a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruling that takes effect on January 5, 2011.

The reason behind the ruling? Carmine is known to cause allergic reactions in some people and can be concern for people who choose not to consume any or certain animals, such as vegans and vegetarians, and followers of religions with dietary laws.