Lead is in more than half of the 33 name brand lipsticks, as reported from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that is linked to many health problems, including neurological, gastrointestinal and reproductive disorders.

Some say there are no safe level of lead exposure. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has found that over 30% of lipsticks exceed the 0.1 parts per million (ppm) FDA lead limit for candy. A standard approved to protect children from ingesting lead.

Since the average woman ingests more than four pounds of lipstick over the course of her lifetime, it’s crucial that we take the lead out. This is a serious issue and thanks to the CSA they are demanding that suppliers, manufacturers, and the US Food and Drug Administration take the lead out of our cosmetics.

The FDA limits lead in FD&C color additives, which are sometimes used in lipsticks, to 10 to 20 ppm, but they do not limit lead or other colorants in these products.

Lipsticks containing lead were found in Cover Girl, L’Oreal and Christian Dior.

On the bright side there are many lipsticks and lip glosses on the market that do not contain lead. Read the labels and look for products containing beeswax, iron oxides, jojoba, shea butter, olive oil or other plant oils and vitamin E.

Good choices for lipsticks, lip glosses and lip pencils include:

1) Dr. Hauschka Lipsticks Ingredients: Castor (Ricinus communis) Oil, Rose (Rosa canina) Hip Extract, Jojoba (Buxus chinensis) Oil, Lanolin, Carrot (Daucus carota) Extract, Candelilla Wax (Candelilla Cera), Shea (Butyrospermum parkii) Butter, Beeswax (Cera flava), Carnauba (Carnauba cerifera) Wax, Rose (Rosa gallica) Petal Extract, Sweet Almond (Prunus dulcis) Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Anthyllis vulneraria Extract, Rice (Oryza sativa) Germ Oil, Rose (Rosa gallica) Wax, Jojoba (Buxus chinensis) Wax, Fragrance (essential oil), Lecithin [May Contain: +/- Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)]

2) Nvey Eco Organic Lipstick Ingredients: Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Safflower Oil, Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, Natural Beeswax, Sorbitan Olivate, Candelilla Wax, Natural Vitamin E, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officnalis Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Root Extract. May Contain: Ci77019 (Mica); Ci77491, Ci77492, Ci77007 (Iron Oxide); Ci77891 (Titanium Dioxide).

3) Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer Ingredients: Sunflower oil, castor oil, beeswax, candelilla wax, lanolin, cocoa seed butter, tocopheryl acetate & tocopherol (Vitamin E), peppermint oil, carnauba wax, rosemary leaf oil. May contain: Iron oxide, mica, carmine, titanium dioxide

4) Treat Candy Color Mineral Lip Stain Ingredients: Prunis Dulcis (Sweet Almond), Apis Mellifera (Beeswax), Palm Christi Oil, Butyrospermun parkii (Shea Butter), Theobroma cacao (Cocoa Butter), Limnanthes alba(Meadowfoam Oil), Oenothers Biennis (Evening Primrose), Persea Americana (Avocado) Butter, Rosa Mosqueta (Rosehip), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Oil, Red 40, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Mica, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Extract), Azadirachta indica (Neem), DMAE, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Salix nigra (Black Willow Bark)

5) Aubrey Natural Lips Kit Natural Lips Kit contains: 4 gram size jars, with lip applicators, of Natural Red, Petal Pink, Mocha Brown and Crystal Clear Natural Lips lip colors.

6) Dr. Hauschka Lip Liner Ingredients: Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Talc, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Japan (Rhus succedanea) Wax, Rose (Rosa gallica) Wax, Diatomaceous Earth (Solum Diatomeae), Anthyllis vulneraria Extract, Witch Ha-zel (Hamamelis virginiana) Extract, Camellia sinensis Ex-tract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Rose (Rosa damas-cena) Essential Oil [May Contain: +/- Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Man-ganese Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)]

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.