Lead Is Found in Several Lipstick Brands, Group Claims

Right now, I’m saying to myself: “I’m not a fear mongerer, I’m not a fear mongerer.” Why you wonder?

Because measurable levels lead was found in 20 of 33 name-brand lipsticks, reports Canada TV and numerous other media outlets. Lead? In lipstick? What?

One-third of the contaminated lipsticks contained levels exceeding recommended (but not set) federal limits for children’s candy of 0.1 parts per million. Here are some of the biggest offenders:

• 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

More shocking is an industry rep’s lack of denial: “I think the levels are actually quite low. I consider these to be trace levels, really low and not something that would present a cause for concern,” says John Bailey of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association.

Double what? The story goes on to explain that lead is not intentionally added to cosmetics.

“Despite the negligible levels of lead found in some lipsticks, cosmetic companies are committed to reducing that level even further,” says Bailey. But it means they’ve been aware of the problem for some time! And how does lead get in lipstick in the first place?

Do all doctors tell pregnant women to stay away from these products? I vaguely remember our doctor warning Anne off of cosmetics during her pregnancy, but I can’t recall if it was specifically for lead.

Worse, what about children like my daughter Lael, who repeatedly gets into my wife’s purse, smears her favorite colors all over her face before trying to lick it off with her tongue?

Dang it, I just read that one of Anne’s favorite colors, Lip Shimmer Merlot came in at .09 parts per million, just below the legal limit. Isn’t Burt’s Bees supposed to be all-natural? That’s why my wife buys it in the first place.

“It’s unconscionable that women should have to worry about lead in lipstick,” says Stacy Malkan, who works for the consumer group that found the lead: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “We want the companies to immediately re-formulate their products to get the lead out and ultimately, really we need to change the laws and force these companies to be accountable to women’s health.” Uh,  ye-ah.

Look, I don’t enjoy bringing all this awful news to my readers. Part of me wants to hide under the covers at this point. But dang it, lead is a cumulative toxin that your body can’t get rid of. In kids it can quickly cause learning disabilities that do not go away. Ever.

I’m still shaking my head. How can manufacturers sell a mouth-applied product that contains lead? Is America becoming “The land of lead and money?”

Additional
Here is the complete report, A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipstick (pdf), which also explains many of the dangers of lead.

*Update
Below are lipsticks where no lead was detectable:

Comments

[Anne]

I was NOT warned away from cosmetics while pregnant -- only fish and herbal teas (Certain kinds of mint have been linked to miscarriages).

I just threw out an unopened Burt's Bees Merlot. Wow, I'm ticked. I look so terrible without lipstick.

What are the brands they tested that didn't have lead? I'll go and buy those.

[Summer]

I'm intrigued that most of the colors are Red's. I wear creams and brownish pinks.... very few reds.

Please Brett, tell me what colors had no lead?

*shudders at the thought of all the little girls like Lael who do the same thing*

[brettdl]

Anne: Ah, I have a faulty memory, then.

Anne and Summer: You can't go by the brands that tested okay, only the INDIVIDUAL lipsticks. I'm adding a table at the end of this post of lipsticks that tested okay. Or click on the pdf link for the ones that tested okay.

[Jennifer]

Once again, thanks for the heads-up on this. I couldn't find a full story on this in my city newspaper. This is unreal, what is the the 1930s? Remember all those film stars that got serious illnesses from mercury in other dangerous elements in makeup?

So sorry to hear your wife had one on the list. I also wear Burts Bees for the "all natural" element. Sigh...

[Henny Penny]

Kapow! That is the sound of my head exploding.

[brettdl]

Jennifer: Your welcome. We're a bit freaked out about it, too.

Henny Penny: Yeah, that sums it up pretty well.

[Lead in Lipstick]

You know, lipstick can indeed be made the god-given natural way.

And a lot of companies are already making it without lead and any other dangerous chemicals.

Then, why put lead and all these other toxic chemicals in the traditional lipstick and poison women?

Freaky!

There's a detailed report about it at:
http://www.myproductalert.com/lead-in-lipsticks.html