Lead in Lipstick

What is Lead?Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in the earth’s crust. It is in all parts of our environment, including the air we breathe, the food we eat and products we use.
Dangers of Lead:Lead is a dangerous neurotoxin, one that the human body cannot break down. If ingested, it accumulates in the body. If your lead levels become too high, the chance of developing health problems is a distinct possibility.These problems are usually minor at first, but then worsen over time with continued exposure. Lead can affect your nervous system, red blood cells, bones, and kidneys; it can also affect reproduction and cause miscarriage. In children, lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, mental retardation, behavior problems, anemia and even death. That being said, however, lead is not a proven cause of cancer.
Lead Found in Lipstick:Lead is a natural element found in the coloring agents that companies use to color lipstick. Lipstick manufacturers do not add lead to their products.In October 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics conducted a test of 33 lipstick brands purchased in different U.S. cities. They found that approximately 20 of the samples tested contained a detectable level of lead.
FDA Regulation:The FDA regulates cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, but does not screen products prior to sale. It does, however, screen color additives, including those used in lipstick. In response to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report, the FDA is conducting its own investigation.As a side note, since the FDA does not have a standard for lead in lipstick, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report compares lead levels in lipstick to the FDA guidelines for lead in candy. According to the FDA, this is not a fair comparison because candy is intended for ingestion and lipstick is not.
Lead in Lipstick: The Bottom Line:With so much conflicting information, it’s important to be informed and make your own decision. The facts are:1. Some lipstick brands contain miniscule traces of lead.2. You cannot test for lead using gold.3. The FDA has strict guidelines for cosmetics, including the color additives in lipstick.4. There are lipsticks that do not contain lead.

Brands with Lead:According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the following lipstick brands contain the highest detectable lead levels. Note that not all of the lipsticks manufactured by these companies were tested or contained detectable lead.1. L’Oreal Colour Riche (2 shades)2. Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor 3. Christian Dior Addict