Leaded Lipstick - Ask for Change

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is reported that tests they conducted on popular lipstick brands showed unacceptable levels of lead as an ingredient. From their test results they found the following results:

"The lead tests were conducted by an independent laboratory in September on lipsticks bought in Boston, Hartford, Conn., San Francisco and Minneapolis. More than half of the 33 brand-name lipsticks tested contained detectable levels of lead, with levels ranging from 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million (ppm). One-third of the tested lipsticks exceeded the FDA guideline for lead in candy, 0.1 ppm, established to reduce lead exposure among children. Even though lipstick products, like candy, are directly ingested and absorbed into the body, the FDA has not set a limit for lead in lipstick. It’s part of a disturbing pattern of lax safety standards in the $50 billion personal care products industry. "

Among the leading brands found to contain lead were:
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

They also found that one-third of the lipsticks tested had no detectable amount of lead, so lead-free lipstick is possible to manufacture.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is encouraging all cosmetics users to contact these makers to ask for changes. You can find these forms at the above website. I just filled mine out. And I'm not letting my children try on lipstick until I find out what is really happening out there.