Is There Lead in Your Lipstick?
400 shades of lipstick sold in the United States were found to have traces of lead, according to federal test results released in December.
And these aren't just obscure brands. On the list: big names like Maybelline, L'Oreal and even high-end products made by NARS and M.A.C.
The findings highlight an ongoing disagreement between the FDA and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics over how much lead should be allowed in products. Currently, the limit is 10 parts per million. In the list below, you can see how close these lipsticks get to this cap:
According to the FDA, the lead isn't posing a danger to consumers. ""We do not consider the lead levels we found in the lipsticks to be a safety concern," said the government agency in an online statement. "The lead levels we found are within the limits recommended by other public health authorities for lead in cosmetics."
But the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics insists that the FDA has no scientific proof that trace amounts of lead are harmless. And they may have a point. Dr. Mark Mitchell, co-chair of the Environmental Health Task Force for the National Medical Association, said in a statement, "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."
For the full list of all lipstick shades tested, you can check out the FDA's analysis here.
How much lead does your favorite shade have?
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