Lead Found In Hundreds Of Popular Lipsticks

Many of us put on lipstick several times a day, never thinking about exactly what we’re applying, not realizing in most lipsticks, you’ll find lead.

The FDA’s recent study found lead in all 400 lipsticks and lip glosses they tested, with Maybelline’s Color Sensational in Pink Petal topping the list.

The news has prompted a lot of concern among women.

The FDA tells us: “In response to a number of inquiries the FDA has received regarding reports of lead contamination in lipstick, we have developed and validated a method for analyzing lead content in currently marketed lipstick. Our results do not show levels of lead in lipstick that would pose a safety concern.”

The FDA is now considering recommending limits for lead in lipstick.

What is FDA's legal authority over cosmetic safety? FDA regulates cosmetic safety under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The FD&C Act requires that cosmetics marketed in interstate commerce be safe when used as directed in the labeling or under customary conditions of use. Cosmetics are not subject to pre-market approval by FDA. However, pre-market approval is required for the color additives used in cosmetics (including those in lipsticks), with the exception of coal-tar hair dyes.

What are FDA's limits for lead in color additives?

FDA limits lead in color additives to maximum specified levels, typically no more than 20 parts per million (ppm) for color additives approved for use in cosmetics. In addition, the color additives listed under regulations in 21 CFR Parts 74 and 82 are required to be batch-certified by FDA, which includes testing each batch for lead, before they may be used in cosmetics.

Is there a safety concern about the lead levels FDA found in lipsticks?

No. We have assessed the potential for harm to consumers from use of lipstick containing lead at the levels found in both rounds of testing. Lipstick, as a product intended for topical use with limited absorption, is ingested only in very small quantities. We do not consider the lead levels we found in the lipsticks to be a safety concern. The lead levels we found are within the limits recommended by other public health authorities for lead in cosmetics, including lipstick.

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Lipstick and Lead: Questions and Answers
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Full FDA List Of Lipsticks With Lead

Dr. Sean Palfrey, Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Boston’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, says, “What they are saying is we don’t want you who have been using these lipsticks for years to panic, it’s probably not harming you. However, when we are trying to make our environment as safe as we can for children, we want to take the poisons out of their environment.”