No Smiling Matter: There Really Is Lead in Some Lipstick
Toys made in China aren’t the only products laced with dangerous heavy metals: lipsticks manufactured in the United States and used daily by millions of American women also contain surprisingly high levels of lead, according to new product tests just released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
The lead tests were conducted by an independent laboratory in September on lipsticks bought in Boston, Hartford, Conn., San Francisco and Minneapolis. More than half of the 33 brand-name lipsticks tested contained detectable levels of lead, with levels ranging from 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million (ppm).
One-third of the tested lipsticks exceeded the FDA guideline for lead in candy, 0.1 ppm, established to reduce lead exposure among children. Even though lipstick products, like candy,
are directly ingested and absorbed into the body, the FDA has not set a limit for lead in lipstick. It’s part of a disturbing pattern of lax safety standards in the $50 billion personal care products industry.
Among the leading brands found to contain lead were:
• L’Oreal Colour Riche “True Red” – 0.65 ppm
• L’Oreal Colour Riche “Classic Wine” – 0.58 ppm
• Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor “Maximum Red” – 0.56 ppm
• Christian Dior Addict “Positive Red” – 0.21 ppm
Lead is a proven neurotoxin that can cause learning, language and behavioral problems such as lowered IQ, reduced school performance and increased aggression. It has also been linked to infertility and miscarriage. Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure because lead easily crosses the placenta and can interfere with fetal brain development.
One-third of the lipsticks tested had no detectable amount of lead, so lead-free lipstick is possible. And, the amounts of lead in the lipsticks tested didn’t correlate with the price of the product, so we know that manufacturing lipstick without lead doesn’t break the bank.
Stand up and shout: Lipstick shouldn’t contain lead! Get started by sending a letter to L’Oreal, whose Colour Riche “True Red” and “Classic Wine” lipsticks were found to have the highest levels of lead in our sample.
Article courtesy of The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.SafeCosmetics.org).
Vashon Organics is a proud carrier of Hemp Organics Lipsticks - which are lead free *, organic and made with ultra moisturizing hemp seed oil.
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October 12th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
If dermatologists tell us that 60% of whatever we put ON our skin goes THROUGH our skin and INTO our bodies, how much of what we put on our lips gets into our systems?
October 19th, 2007 at 7:59 am
We all need lead free cosmetics and body products. I just had a metal toxitity test done and I’m off the chart for lead in my body.
Family physicians don’t look at this in adults as a health concern. Why not?? I’m seeing a doctor that is open to more than just giving out more prescriptions to treat symptoms rather than the root of the problem.
Our health insurance industry and doctors need to look a little further for the root of the problems. Thank you. I’m looking for lead free cosmetics and body products. Yes, I filter all my water.