Lipstick Recall - is there lead in my lipstick?
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Lipstick Recall?
Important facts about lead in lipstick:
- 61% of brand-name lipsticks recently tested contain lead
- the average American woman consumes (ingests) 4 lbs of lipstick over the course of her lifetime
- The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate the level of lead in lipstick
- Many lead-containing lipsticks have more lead in them than is allowable in candy
- It is almost impossible for the human body to dispose of or break down lead. It accumulate in body tissues over time, so even a small amount, over time, can pose health risks
- Lead is a neurotoxin - it damages brain and nerve cells
- Lead poses a particular risk to pregnant women, since it can cross the placenta into the fetus and cause developmental problems
Lipsticks tested to have the highest levels of lead (above 0.1ppm lead levels):
- L'Oréal Colour Riche "True Red"
- L'Oréal Colour Riche "Classic Wine"
- Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red"
- Cover Girl Continuous Color "Cherry Brandy
- Dior Addict "Positive Red"
- Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Cocoa Plum
- Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Midnight Red
- Peacekeeper Paint Me Compassionate
- Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Scarlet Simmer
Safe lipsticks (less that 0.02ppm lead levels):
- Avon Ultra Color Rich Cherry Jubilee
- Body Shop Lip Colour Garnet
- Clinique Long Last Lipstick Merlot
- Dior Replenishing Lipcolor Red Premiere
- Estee Lauder Maraschino
- MAC Matte Lipstick Viva Glam 1
- Revlon Superlustrous Love That Red
- Revlon Superlustrous Bed of Roses
- Revlon Colorstay Lipcolor Red Velvet
- Tarte Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick
- Wet N Wild Mega Colors Cherry Blossom
Source: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Read the full document here: "A Poison Kiss"
Note that there is not a current recall of lipstick.
- If you would like to add your name to a petition demanding that the FDA institute a recall, please visit this site.
- Latest feed of recalls from the FDA.
- Contact L'Oreal to ask them to reformulate their lipsticks without lead-containing compounds.
Wait...wasn't this a myth?
There was an urban myth circulating around a few years ago that said that you could determine if a lipstick had high levels of lead by smearing it into your palm, rubbing a gold ring on it, and see if it turned black. That was a myth, and it has been debunked.
Part of the myth was that lipsticks had dangerous & illegal levels of lead, too. This too was a myth. The lead levels are within the confines for coloring substances (pigments) set by the FDA. However, with what we know about lead and its toxicity, how much is actually consumed, and the fact that no level of lead is truly safe, it's worth arguing that no lead at all should be detectable in lipstick. The figures above prove that you can make lipstick with lead below detectable levels.
At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide whether or not the FDA-allowable levels of lead in lipstick are acceptable to you or not.
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Thank you for this informative hub. I will be more careful now, when I buy my red color lipstick...and I do wear red....which seems to be the one that is affected.
Good article. This kind of information needs to be out there and those who are responsible for seeking the bottomline only need to be held accountable, especially at the checkout stand. The checkout stand will get their attention more quickly than some government agency that slaps them on the wrist and sends the bill to the American taxpayer.
FFS! Eeeek! So glad I prefer gloss to lipstick!
I am so happy I rarely ever wear lapstick. It's either gloss or chapstick here.
I prefer women with 'natural' looks!
can trust anyone these days
This made me run and check my lipstick! Thanks for the heads up.
I cannot believe that you have just listed some of my favorites lipsticks among the ones with the highest levels of lead...
Now it comes the "to wear it or not to wear it" question... I think I will take the risk.
I immediately went and checked the brand name on my lipstick, I'm not safe, it's off to the store to buy one with no lead! Thanks for the info!
what much lipstics use can make lips sprue ache for you.
It almost makes you want to return to the days when women made their own cosmetics. Plant some beets in the garden and then use the natural color to stain your lips. Yes, after reading this, I am tempted! Thanks for the heads up!
Wal Mart, FAF, Lip Gloss, Locket, Childrens jewelry, lead, recall, health, cpsc Wal Mart Lip Gloss, Locket and Bracelet Set ... Wal Mart, toy, Faded Glory, Lip Gloss, Locket, Bracelet, Childrens jewelry, health, cpsc, lead, recall Wal-Mart Faded Glory Lip Gloss, Locket, and Bracelet Set... i can go on for ever never buy lip gloss at walmart ever.
Funny that the title is "Lipstick Recall" when there is no lipstick recall. When I tried to find out if there was lead in my lipstick I could not find it. The FDA site says that the lipsticks do not contain large amounts of lead. In fact after researching it, we ingest more lead from drinking water than our lipstick. So now should we stop drinking water and breathing air? I wish there was a site that had accurate information. I really want to know if my lipstick is safe.
Ellie: The fact is that this is an unregulated market. I could create a lipstick in my garage today and sell it tomorrow, and the FDA would have no oversight over it. If someone notified me that the lipstick I made had lead, or I discovered it, I could work with the FDA to get a recall going to limit costs associated with damages. But, short of that, you're going to see that FDA information is reactive to problems, not proactive to them, at least when it comes to cosmetics.
If lipsticks with 0.1ppm of lead or higher - which is, as the FDA says, probably not something to get terribly alarmed about - is okay with you, then lipsticks from major, established cosmetics companies are probably safe. They tend to have more rigorous manufacturing standards, and they will take extra precautions to make sure they're not sued (it would be a big PR mess for them). Picking lipsticks out of the drugstore bargain bin is considerably more risky.
madheadquaters 4 years ago
I THINK IT'S TIME TO PUT AN END TO THESE COMPANYS THAT DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS, IT'S TIME TO STOP BUYING THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. JUST SAY NO AND LET THEM GO OUT OF BUSINESS! THE LIP STICK MANUFACTURES, TOYS, FOOD, PET FOODS, PRODUCE, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE, EVERYDAY WE GET A NEW SURPRISE, IT'S TIME TO GIVE THEM A SURPRISE AND QUIT SUPPORTING THEM! STOP BUYING THEIR STUFF ALL OF IT AND FIND COMPANYS THAT CARE TO BUY YOUR PRODUCTS FROM.