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We know to avoid it in paint, jewelry and even candy, but are we exposed to lead in our cosmetics?\u00a0 A recent study by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found lead in 400 lipsticks tested from mainstream brands, like L\u2019Oreal and Maybelline.\u00a0 And it wasn\u2019t just a little lead either.\u00a0 Take a look at this chart from the FDA website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lead is a known neurotoxin, linked to brain damage, miscarriage and other health issues.\u00a0 This contaminant has been associated with lowered IQ, increased aggression and learning disabilities.\u00a0 Pregnant women and small children are especially vulnerable to damage from lead, but it’s unhealthy for everyone.<\/p>\n Lead contaminates many chemical color additives, like those used in conventionally produced lipstick.\u00a0 The FDA has not set limits for lead in cosmetics, but has set \u201cspecifications for lead in color additives used in cosmetics.\u201d The safety limit for lead in candy is less than .1 parts per million (ppm). This most recent study shows lead levels in lipstick reaching up to 7 ppm.\u00a0 Maybelline (an arm of the L\u2019Oreal USA company) Color Sensational 125 Pink Petal lipstick contained 7.19.<\/p>\n Considering lipstick wearers usually apply the product several times each day, lead in lipstick is a very big concern for those wearing mainstream brands.<\/strong> While the FDA states that a product like lipstick is \u201cintended for topical use and ingested in much smaller quantities\u201d, lead builds up in the system over time.\u00a0 And since you apply lipstick to your lips, some of it has to be ingested. One study shows that women who wear lipstick typically consume around 4 to 6 pounds of the product each year.\u00a0 That kind of exposure to lead-contaminated lipstick is going to add up.<\/p>\n Personally, I don\u2019t want any<\/em> lead in my lipstick, candy or whatever.\u00a0 The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has formed a petition <\/a>urging L\u2019Oreal to create a lead-free lipstick.\u00a0 This would be great, and I signed the petition. Any step in the right direction is a good thing.\u00a0 But what about all of the other toxic ingredients companies like L\u2019Oreal are using in their makeup, skin care and so on?<\/p>\n There are many safe and healthy brands who make gorgeous lipsticks and other nontoxic beauty products, and I feel like promoting them<\/em>.\u00a0 Here are just a few of my personal favorites:<\/p>\n Any of the lipsticks from the above brands look great, feel good, are healthy, and contain no toxic ingredients\u2026including lead.\u00a0 True beauties.<\/p>\n [Image from bignosetw at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license]<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"So why are researchers finding lead in lipstick?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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