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 RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
I recently heard that lipstick is toxic because it
contains lead. Is there any truth to this?Yes, many studies have shown that
lipsticks manufactured in the United States contain surprisingly high levels
of lead. This information was reported as far back as 2007 from a study
released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Through their independent study
on red lipsticks, the following was found:
www.safecosmetics.org
- More than half of 33 brand name lipsticks tested (61 percent) contained
detectable levels of lead, with levels ranging from .03 to .65 parts per
million (ppm). None of these lipsticks listed lead as an ingredient.
- One third of the tested lipsticks exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration’s 0.1 ppm limit for lead in candy - a standard established to
protect people from directly ingesting lead. Lipstick falls within this
category.
At the time that this report was published, the brand names that were among
the highest to contain lead included L’Oreal Colour Riche “True Red”,
L’Oreal Colour Riche “Classic Wine”, Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor
“Maximum Red” and Christian Dior Addict “Positive Red”.
Exposure to lead is exceptionally harmful, especially for pregnant women.
Lead exposure “easily crosses the placenta and may enter the fetal brain,
where it interferes with normal development.” Lead is a known neurotoxin
that has been proven to cause learning, language and behavioral problems in
children. It has also been linked to miscarriage, reduced fertility in both
men and women, hormonal changes, menstrual irregularities and delays in the
onset of puberty.
Now if you are a lipstick wearer, do the math. Applying it several times a
day times, 360 days a year, combined with all the other lead sources we are
exposed to daily adds up. Fortunately, you do not have to give up this
alluring beauty regime. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is continuing to
call on cosmetic companies to test their full product lines for lead and to
reformulate the way they manufacture and package their products. Google this
address to find a list of conventional lipstick brands that have
“non-detectable” amounts of lead:
www.safecosmetics.org/downloads/A%20Poison%20Kiss_report.pdf -- go
to page 10.
Or better yet, switch completely to pure or organic lipsticks! Yes, they are
out there - from our health stores to even department stores, they can be
found.
Our Experts have loads on informative tidbits ready to share with you.
Have questions? Want answers? Email
experts@risingwomen.com
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