The FDA has a pretty low limit for lead in candy for obvious reasons, but the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics says lipstick should be held to the same standards because it is ingested, and because pregnant women are "particularly vulnerable to lead exposure" and "lead has also been linked to infertility and miscarriage."
A cosmetic trade group counters that the FDA has already set strict limits for lead in lipsticks, and that experts test the makeup thoroughly, and that the amount of lead a woman can get from lipstick "is hundreds of times less than the amount that she would get from eating, breathing and drinking water." But according to Dr. Mark Mitchell, president of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice,
Lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels. The latest studies show there is no safe level of lead exposure.The following brands make up the study's "safe" group of less than .02 ppm, which means you can tart yourself up like there's no tomorrow with these. But the study did not include every brand on the market, so unless your brand shows up elsewhere on the list, there's no way to know how much lead it contains. To see the other lipsticks and where they fall in the rankings (apparently the "L" in "L'Oreal" stands for "Lead!"), download the report and jump to page 10.
"Lipsticks contain lead, consumer group says" [Reuters]
RELATED
"A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead In Lipstick" [Campaign for Safe Cosmetics]
(Photo: Getty)
The bottom line here? There are no safe levels of lead exposure for ANYONE, especially women of pre- or peri- childbearing age. It IS possible to make red lipstick with little to no lead in it, so why expose yourself to more heavy metal contamination than necessary?
]]>Think of all the everyday sources from which we're getting "miniscule" and "acceptable" levels of what would otherwise be considered highly toxic/possible fatal chemicals...Air fresheners, home and auto cleaning supplies, processed foods and soft drinks, toiletries and cosmetics, our kids' toys (pretty outraged about that one), and just about anything new w/fabric (clothing, furniture, bedding, the seats/floor of a new car - all filling your home and your body with formaldehyde!)...I could go on and on, and that's just the stuff we know about!
My point is, is it any wonder so many people are suffering from such a wide spectrum of mental and physical illnesses when everything we touch is slowly poisoning us?
I grew up with lead toys, lead paint, lead soldered pipes, tin cans with lead solder, and Lord knows what else. I turned out ok.... Nevermind
]]>@janiejane: Hardly. The article is mainly a debunking of a silly "gold ring test" and does not dispute the study results, just expresses skepticism that lipstick lead will be eaten in significant quantity.
]]>So get the the sand out of your panties (silica is toxic as it causes inflammation of the lung lining dontcha know)
]]>Lead has lots of useful properties, which is why it is used so commonly in many products. Often times there either no substitutes for using lead (the recent tin splinters caused by lead-free solder), or alternatives are more expensive in comparison. But we do recognize that lead has potential health hazards. That's why the FDA allows for certain levels of lead in products at different levels.
]]>The 0.1ppm limit on candy is under the assumption you'd actually eat the entire candy thus requiring the lower limit. It also assumes a certain daily intake, to even reach such levels.
Unless your kid is eating lipstick EVERYDAY, the toxicity contained in lipstick is extremely minimal. Also while lead is toxic, the role of the FDA is to MINIMIZE EXPOSURE. There are levels of lead that can be consumed that are not harmful, so the idea is to minimize exposure from multiple sources so the cumulative effect is minimal.
]]>And although this is the 'safe list', Body Shop and Burt's Bees are also on the detectable level of lead list.
]]>Everything has its time and place :p I generally prefer earthy colors myself.
]]>And for those of you bemoaning certain brands being on the list - read the article again! that is the safe list! that is the "less than .02ppm" list. zero is les than .02. if it has zero lead, it would make the list.
geez - this blog is getting worse than the fake-scare stories you see on local "news" programs.
]]>If you want to be really grossed out go look at the toxic chemicals they use in perfume today.
I now feel much better about not being a makeup diva anymore.
]]>@oncewascool: Thanks for the weirdly judgmental fashion advice. As a woman, I contend that whore-red lipstick and black eyeliner are totally hot if you do it right. I mean, how could you not love the Robert Palmer video look?
]]>I'm currently trying to work out why in the world there would BE a lead allowance for *candy*, myself. Seriously, how is it remotely acceptable to have ANY lead in food products?
]]>The key to makeup is with a very light foundation. That's all there is to it. Don't blacken your eyes with under liner, and don't pack it on thick. Be yourself.
]]>Ouch!
So there's lead in everything...isn't this what caused the downfall of the Roman Empire (with their lead pipes, cups, etc.)?
So I guess we didn't learn from history?!
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