400 Popular Lipstick Shades Found to Contain Lead

Beauty and body care products are continually being ousted as toxin-containing health destroyers. A recent study has added further cause for alarm, finding that 400 popular lipstick shades contained lead. Of course the FDA is assuring consumers that this lead exposure is completely safe, failing to act once more regarding serious health threats lurking in consumer products. The FDA said that lipstick is not meant to be ingested, and is for topical use only. Therefore, it is ‘completely safe’.

Lipstick Shades Shown to Contain Toxic Lead

The federal analysis reviewed top lipstick brands sold to children and adults alike. Purchased between February and July of 2012, all 400 shades came from retail stores. Of the 400 lipstick shades, a list of the top 5 offenders was created:

1. Maybelline’s “Color Sensational 125 Pink Petal” at 7.19 ppm of lead.
2. L’Oréal’s “Colour Riche 410 Volcanic” at 7.00 ppm.
3. NARS’ “Semi-Matte 1005 Red Lizard” at 4.93 ppm.
4. Cover Girl Queen Collection’s “Vibrant Hues Color Q580 Ruby Remix” at 4.92 ppm.
5. NARS’ “Semi-Matte 1009 Funny Face” at 4.89 ppm.

For the full list you can visit the FDA’s website.

Amazingly, reports of lead residing in lipstick have been springing up since the 1990s, periodically resurfacing since then. Meanwhile, the FDA continues to assert that such ‘low levels’ of lead exposure is perfectly safe. Despite the fact that kissing, eating, or drinking with lipstick can lead to ingestion (not even mentioning the fact that topical use can still result in exposure), the FDA says that since you aren’t eating the lipstick there is nothing to worry about.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has been leading the charge against lead in lipstick products for years, calling upon the FDA to act. In 2007 the organization tested 33 red lipsticks and reported that two-thirds of the tested products contained lead. What’s more is that one-third exceeded the FDA’s lead limit for candy. As the agency has taken no action, reports continue to surface regarding the presence of not only lead, but mercury in common food and personal care items as well.