Question:
Dear Rabbi,
I come from a family who practices more humrot in Pesah, comparing to my wife’s family, who are more mekel.
I have learned from sefer Maamar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Elyahu) that although cosmetics in general don’t need to be Kasher LePesah, lipsticks need to be since they are put on the lips. I asked my wife if she was going to buy lipsticks for Pesah and she told me she had never heard about that and that she was not thinking about buying it.
I don’t know if the lipsticks are flavoured or not. Asking her could potentially offend her, as we are slowly recovering from a Shalom Bait crisis where one of the main problems is the fact that I’m more makpid (“more religious”) than her.
Could it possibly be a basis for allowing lipsticks for Pesach (even flavoured ones)? It would really be embarrassing to ask her about that and a possible source of fights.
Thank you.
Answer:
Under the circumstances there is no need for stringency. Lip balm is not food and is not suitable for consumption, so that there is no need for a hechsher. This is irrespective of the ingredients.
Although some have the custom of buying special cosmetics for Pesach, including (and sometimes especially) lipstick, this is a stringency and not required according to the strict halachah.
Where there is an issue of Shlom Bayis, one should be machmir in Shlom Bayis and there is no room for taking on the Pesach stringency where this will be harmful to the relationship.
Best wishes.
Sources:
Although some lipstick might be inadvertently swallowed, this is not considered “achshevei” because there is no intention to swallow the lipstick.
