Elleh, B.I*1, Thompson, I.N2 1Department of Chemical Pathology, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria 2Department of Chemical Pathology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Introduction Cosmetics are products used to improve or change the physical looks of the human face and skin by applying it on the face, hair, and skin. Cosmetics are generally a mixture of different synthethic or natural compounds, produced from either synthetic or plant sources. There are two major types of cosmetic products, which are classified based on the source of the raw material used for production. They include synthetic and herbal cosmetics. When chemical compounds are used in the creation of the beauty product, it is known as a synthetic cosmetic. While herbal cosmetics involves the use of parts or whole of plant material in the manufacturing of the beauty product. There is an all-encompassing variety of herbal cosmetics that are manufactured and commonly used for everyday purposes. These herbal cosmetics are produced from a plant source [1]. The upsurge in the use of herbal cosmetics is because they are believed to be safer for health than the synthetic ones [2]. However, scientific research has discovered that not all herbal products are safe, as per general belief, some are quite toxic, having several adverse effects, polluted with heavy metals and contain phytotoxins or biotoxins [3]. Plant-based cosmetics are generally regarded as safe because they are produced from natural plants. Notwithstanding, there are cases of severe side effects after their use and the toxicity has been traced to contaminants and adulteration from poor manufacturing processes. This resulted from using plants contaminated with heavy metals from the environment or soil. Exposure to heavy metals has been increasingly implicated in the disruption of lipid metabolism and the development of dyslipidemia. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) are ubiquitous environmental and cosmetic contaminants that enter the human body through dermal absorption, inhalation, and ingestion. Once absorbed, these metals accumulate primarily in the liver and kidney, organs that are central to lipid synthesis, metabolism, and clearance [4]. Several epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated a significant association between chronic heavy metal exposure and alterations in serum lipid parameters, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The primary mechanism underlying metal-induced dyslipidemia is oxidative stress. Lead, cadmium, and mercury are known to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which initiate lipid peroxidation in hepatic cell membranes [5]. Lipid peroxidation leads to hepatocellular damage and impairment of key enzymes involved in lipoprotein metabolism, such as lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase and lipoprotein lipase. Consequently, this results in elevated levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, with a concomitant decrease in HDL-C [6]. In addition, heavy metals bind to sulfhydryl groups of antioxidant enzymes, thereby depleting glutathione and further exacerbating oxidative damage [7]. The dyslipidemic pattern associated with heavy metal exposure — elevated TC, TG, LDL-C and reduced HDL-C — translates to increased atherogenic risk. This is reflected in elevated cardiovascular risk indices such as the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), Cardiac Risk Ratio (CRI-I), and Atherogenic Coefficient (AC) [8]. [9] reported that several facial creams and skin-lightening products in circulation contained lead, cadmium, and mercury at concentrations   exceeding WHO permissible limits. The authors emphasized that chronic dermal application of such products could result in systemic metal accumulation and subsequent liver and kidney toxicity, which may indirectly alter lipid profiles. Although direct human studies linking cosmetic use to lipid indices remain limited, evidence from occupational and environmental exposure studies provides biological plausibility for this relationship. MATERIALS AND METHOD PROCUREMENT OF HERBAL COSMETICS Three (3) types of commonly used herbal hair oils namely Allthingsnatural by Emi Herbal Oil, Amal Botanical Shea Oil and Kakiva herbal oil were purchased from a Supermarket in Port Harcourt and labelled product A (Allthingsnaturalby Emiherbaloil), B (Amal Botanical Shea Oiland C (Kakiva Herbal Oil) respectively. EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS: A total of fifty-two (52), two-month-old, New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that weighed between 1.2 - 1.5 kg were used for this study. The rabbits were purchased from a breeder in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Four (4) rabbits wereused asbaselinecontrol, while the remaining forty eight (48) rabbits were divided into three (3) groups (A, B and C) of twelve (12) rabbits each with matched cont