Lead In Lipstick--What Next?

[orleans]

A consumer group says that certain popular, U.S.-made red lipsticks contain "surprisingly high levels of lead" that might be potentially dangerous, and the Food and Drug Administration said it would investigate, while cautioning that previous claims "have not generally been supported" by FDA analysis, the Associated Press says.

The lead tests were conducted on 33 brand-name lipsticks by an independent laboratory last month on red lipsticks bought in Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Hartford, Conn., according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. The group, which advocates for toxic-free products, said that 61% had detectable levels of lead, and that one-third exceeded the FDA's lead limit of 0.1 ppm for candy. The FDA hasn't set a level for lipstick.

Here's the organization's press release and the full report.

The trade group representing the cosmetic industry issued a statement acknowledging that there "negligible" levels of lead in some lipsticks but that it's inadvertent.

"The average amount of lead a woman would be exposed to when using cosmetics is 1,000 times less than the amount she would get from eating, breathing, and drinking water that meets Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards."
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/fda-to-investig.html

http://www.safecosmetics.org/
http://www.wltx.com/supplements/leadreport.pdf

As for the tested lipsticks that showed the highest lead levels:
L'Oreal Colour Riche "True Red" .65ppm,
L'Oreal Colour Riche "Classic Wine" .58ppm,
Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor"Maximum Red" .56ppm,
And Christian Dior Addict "Positive Red" .21ppm.

The cosmetic companies are maintaining that their lipsticks are safe.
http://www.wbtv.com/home/10510212.html

[knitter4democracy]

1. I have a lead test kit here at home.

I should test all my lipsticks and such. I wonder if the lead is in the red ochre they get in mineral form and don't test enough.

[orleans]

2. where do you get a lead test kit? the way things are going lately

it sounds like a lead test kit would make the perfect holiday/birthday/housewarming/anniversary gift!

[knitter4democracy]

10. I got it from a link from here.

This isn't the same one, but it's a good price:
http://www.leadinspector.com/

I got it to test all the insulated lunch bags to make sure, plus any Christmas presents. Honestly, I think it is a good thing to have around. Once I figure out a good way to test my lipsticks, I'll do those.

[kimmylavin]

3. My Goodness.

I feel like we're living in Tim Burton's Batman!
Where's Jack/the Joker?

[la la]

5. holymaryjeebusandthe carpenter..............

somebody better check Laura's lips. she'll have a serious case of leadlips, fershure!

:evilgrin:

[KT2000]

4. Safe products

are just a myth.
Cosmetics rely upon voluntary participation of the manufacturers - they are not required to be tested and safe.

Household cleaners for the consumer are not required to be safe either.

Consumers are not a protected class. Unions have made sure workers have laws to protect them and exposure limits. The consumer has no such thing.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

6. If it has lead in it, it is not potentially dangerous.

It is dangerous.

[mithnanthy]

7. Lipstick lead test...

A few months ago a friend sent me this alarming news about lead in lipsticks, especially the deep colored ones. A HOME TEST was suggested that instructs you to put a "strip" of lipstick color on your palm and then gently but firmly keep rubbing the color with a GOLD ring....for up to a minute. If the lipstick contains lead....the color will turn DARK to almost black in color. I tried it on my one expensive tube,(exceptionally deep color) by Yves St.Laurent and it turned black! I tried it on my Revlon and it didn't change color. It's worth trying. I don't know if the color change is actually caused by lead, but that's what was reported. Check it out.

[orleans]

8. found this

http://www.wikihow.com/Test-Your-Lipstick-for-Dangerous-Lead
there are a ton of these on different websites
google: lipstick color rub test lead

[canetoad]

9. Where does grease go

I had time once to chat with the driver of a truck that sucked out greasepits under commercial kitchens. I can't describe the smell.

Anyhow, I asked him what became of the truckloads of fetid sludge that is retrieved. To Korea he said, where it is processed to be exported as generic cosmetic base.

The Beauty , and I use the term advisedly, industry has a lot to answer for.