Ladies, beware of your lipsticks

wind2000 · Oct 13, 2007

FDA to examine claim of lead levels in lipstick
Updated Fri. Oct. 12 2007 10:54 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday it would examine claims from an American consumer group that it has found some brand-name lipsticks contain potentially dangerous levels of lead.

The agency said that similar claims had not been confirmed in the past.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics had 33 brand-name red lipsticks tested.

About 60 per cent had detectable levels of lead, ranging from 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million (ppm). The remainder had no detectable levels of lead.

Here are some of the products with the highest lead levels:

L'Oreal Colour Riche "True Red" - 0.65 ppm
L'Oreal Colour Riche "Classic Wine" - 0.58 ppm
Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red" - 0.56 ppm
Christian Dior Addict "Positive Red" - 0.21 ppm
One-third of those brands containing lead exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's limit of 0.1 ppm for lead in candy.

The group said that limit was established to protect children from ingesting lead.

"It's unconscionable that women should have to worry about lead in lipstick," said the campaign's Stacy Malkan. "We want the companies to immediately re-formulate their products to get the lead out and ultimately, really we need to change the laws and force these companies to be accountable to women's health."

However, the FDA said concerns about lead in lipstick have been raised occasionally.

"These concerns have not generally been supported by FDA's own analysis of products on the market. In the present case, we are looking into the specific details of the issues raised," Stephanie Kwisnek, a spokeswoman at the FDA, told The Associated Press. "We will need to confirm the factual basis of these reports independently in order to determine what action, if any, may be needed to protect public health."

Meanwhile, a trade group representing the cosmetics industry also said the report is nothing new and that women have nothing to worry about.

"I think the levels are actually quite low. I consider these to be trace levels, really low and not something that would present a cause for concern," said John Bailey of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association.

The cosmetics industry argues that women don't ingest very much of the lipstick they wear.

Malkan argues that cosmetics can be made without lead.

The group said that lead, a neurotoxin, can cause a host of problems, particularly in children. Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable, it said.

In a statement, Bailey said lead is not intentionally added to cosmetics, adding, "Despite the negligible levels of lead found in some lipsticks, cosmetic companies are committed to reducing that level even further."

But some experts say that in the case of lipstick, the health worries are unfounded. They point out lead is everywhere in trace amounts.

"We live in a very complex world, where we are using all kinds of chemicals, we're synthesizing all kinds of things, and lead just gets into us. It's impossible to avoid it," McGill University's Joe Schwarcz told CTV News.

The FDA sets strict limits on lead levels used in lipstick colours, "and actually analyze most of these to ensure they are followed," the statement said. "The products identified in the (CSC) report meet these standards."

In response, a Cover Girl representative said the company stands behind its products. L'Oreal said its products are tested and meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards. The maker of Dior says the only lead in its products are naturally occurring and harmless.
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http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe.../lipstick_lead_071012/20071012?hub=TopStories

xmichelly · Oct 13, 2007

oh damn. good thing I don't use lipstick

hiake · Oct 13, 2007

It goes for all cosmetics, the more brilliant/sharp the colour, the higher the lead content...

But where's YSL's lipstick? I read an article a few years back saying the YSL lipsticks has more than 1ppm in average across all shades... -unsure

xiaojia · Oct 13, 2007

^ guess the main concern with lipsticks is that ppl will consume more of it than other cosmetics..

Phoenix · Oct 13, 2007

lucky i dont wear lipstick ...but will warn my friends to be careful wen picking their shades...

neko-pochi · Oct 13, 2007

haha good thing I don't use lipsticks. Lip balm ftw.

Though, why are lead needed in lipsticks? And I guess pregnant women shouldn't be wearing these brands of lipsticks..

hiake · Oct 13, 2007

neko-pochi said: ↑

haha good thing I don't use lipsticks. Lip balm ftw.

Though, why are lead needed in lipsticks? And I guess pregnant women shouldn't be wearing these brands of lipsticks..
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I remember lead makes the colour more brilliant and stays longer. So the more persistent your cosmetic product is, the more likely it is ridden with lead.

bbes · Oct 13, 2007

never knew that. not that it affects me much unless ur kissing a girl u now know that u could be consuming lead.

MissCheekS · Oct 13, 2007

=/....lucky me i never wear lipstick...i dont even own one
im more of a glossy chick hehe.....

Shini_D · Oct 13, 2007

natural lol, either that a touch of lip balm to keep the lips not so dry haha.
damnn... good thing i dnt wear lippy lol

The_Jelly · Oct 13, 2007

hiake said: ↑

I remember lead makes the colour more brilliant and stays longer. So the more persistent your cosmetic product is, the more likely it is ridden with lead.
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That applies to paint and ink as well.

Kaitou_Kid · Oct 13, 2007

i am so happy i dont wear lipstick!

livalicious · Oct 13, 2007

thank god i dont wear that!!

hiake · Oct 14, 2007

The_Jelly said: ↑

That applies to paint and ink as well.
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I believe most parts of Europe (at least Netherlands) has banned all lead based paint for nearly a decade now.

person · Oct 14, 2007

Good thing I don't use lipstick either. Either lip gloss or balm for me.

brown_bear · Oct 14, 2007

looks like not many people wear lippy anyway...

good old lip balm for meee anywayZ xP

PhY pHy · Oct 15, 2007

goood thing i dunt use lipstick...i use lipgloss...and just lip
balm...clinique lipbam is good...dunt use lipstick mature women...

unclelooi · Oct 19, 2007

luckily im guy..i din use lipstick...but my gf does

~*Dawn*~ · Oct 19, 2007

heard abt that yonks ago... i don't wear lipsticks... but then again God knows how much lead along with other crap i'm taking in everyday from other sources...

nyckeion · Oct 23, 2007

dun like girls with lipstick anyways hehe

Ladies, beware of your lipsticks

wind2000 Self Schemata

xmichelly Well-Known Member

hiake Vardøgr of da E.Twin

xiaojia Well-Known Member

Phoenix ~Though she be but little, she is fierce~

neko-pochi Well-Known Member

hiake Vardøgr of da E.Twin

bbes Incredible

MissCheekS Reconnaîssant ❤

Shini_D Well-Known Member

The_Jelly NSFW? :P

Kaitou_Kid Well-Known Member

livalicious Member

hiake Vardøgr of da E.Twin

person Well-Known Member

brown_bear ☆‧° ☆﹒﹒‧ ☆ ﹒﹒‧☆‧° ☆

PhY pHy Well-Known Member

unclelooi Well-Known Member

~Dawn~ Banned

nyckeion ....Boo....

Ladies, beware of your lipsticks

wind2000 Self Schemata

xmichelly Well-Known Member

hiake Vardøgr of da E.Twin

xiaojia Well-Known Member

Phoenix *~Though she be but little, she is fierce~*

neko-pochi Well-Known Member

hiake Vardøgr of da E.Twin

bbes Incredible

MissCheekS Reconnaîssant ❤

Shini_D Well-Known Member

The_Jelly NSFW? :P

Kaitou_Kid Well-Known Member

livalicious Member

hiake Vardøgr of da E.Twin

person Well-Known Member

brown_bear ☆‧° ☆﹒﹒‧ ☆ ﹒﹒‧☆‧° ☆

PhY pHy Well-Known Member

unclelooi Well-Known Member

~*Dawn*~ Banned

nyckeion ....Boo....

Phoenix ~Though she be but little, she is fierce~

~Dawn~ Banned