No Smiling Matter: There Really Is Lead in Some Lipstick
Ref.Information for Companies about the Compact for Safe Cosmetics:Janet Nudelman, National Campaign Coordinator
Breast Cancer Fund Email:[email protected]
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.
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Click here for full report and more infromation on Lead testing in Lipstick.
we should require that they do so.
Lipsticks with less than 0.02 parts per million (ppm)lead
Brand Product Name/Shade Lead Parent Company State Purchased/Date
Avon Ultra Color Rich Cherry Jubilee <0.02 Avon MA* 08/27/07
Body Shop Lip Colour Garnet <0.02 LʹOreal MA 08/27/07
Body Shop Lip Colour Garnet <0.02 LʹOreal CA 08/23/07
Clinique Long Last Lipstick Merlot <0.02 Estee Lauder MA 08/27/07
Dior Replenishing Lipcolor Red Premiere <0.02 LVMH MA 08/27/07
Estee Lauder Maraschino <0.02 Estee Lauder MN 08/26/07
MAC Matte Lipstick Viva Glam 1 <0.02 Estee Lauder MA 08/27/07
Revlon Superlustrous Love That Red <0.02 Revlon CT 08/27/07
Revlon Superlustrous Bed of Roses <0.02 Revlon CA 08/23/07
Revlon Colorstay Lipcolor Red Velvet <0.02 Revlon CA 08/23/07
Tarte Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick <0.02 Tarte MA 08/27/07
Wet N Wild Mega Colors Cherry Blossom <0.02 Markwins CA 08/23/07
Wet N Wild Mega Colors Cherry Blossom <0.02 Markwins CT 08/27/07
Lipsticks with detectable levels of lead but less than 0.1 ppm lead (the FDA‐recommended limit for candy)
MAC Matte Lipstick Viva Glam 0.03 Estee Lauder MN 08/26/07
Revlon Love That Red 0.03 Revlon MN 08/26/07
Cover Girl Queen Collection Ruby Remix 0.03 P & G CT 08/27/07
Clinique Long Last Paprika 0.03 Estee Lauder CA 08/23/07
Dior Replenishing Lipcolor Red Premiere 0.04 LVMH MN 08/26/07
Body Shop Garnet 0.06 LʹOreal MN 08/26/07
Wet N Wild Cherry Frost 0.06 Markwins MN 08/26/07
Clinique Angel Red 0.09 Estee Lauder MN 08/26/07
Burtʹs Bees Lip Shimmer Merlot 0.09 Burtʹs Bees MA 08/29/07
Lipsticks with lead levels higher than 0.1 ppm
Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Scarlet Simmer 0.11 LʹOreal
CT 08/27/07
Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor Maximum Red 0.12 P &
G CA 08/23/07
Peacekeeper Paint Me Compassionate 0.12 Peacekeeper
MA 08/27/07
Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Midnight Red 0.18 LʹOreal
MN 08/26/07
Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Cocoa Plum 0.19 LʹOreal
CA 08/23/07
Dior Addict Positive Red 0.21
LVMH CA 08/23/07
Cover Girl Continuous Color Cherry Brandy 0.28 P &
G CA 08/23/07
LʹOreal Colour Riche True Red 0.50 LʹOreal
MN 08/26/07
Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor Maximum Red 0.56 P &
G MN 08/26/07
LʹOreal Colour Riche Classic Wine 0.58 LʹOreal
CT 08/27/07
LʹOreal Colour Riche True Red 0.65 LʹOreal
CA 08/23/07
- Purchased from Web consultant based in Boston 10
