Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in the Earth’s crust, making it present in soil, water, and air due to both natural and industrial processes. Because of its widespread environmental presence, trace amounts of lead can inadvertently make their way into various products, including cosmetics like lipstick.
Lead in Lipstick: What Studies Reveal
Concerns over lead in lipstick have been raised over the years, particularly following studies that examined the levels present in various brands. In 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics conducted an analysis of 33 popular lipsticks and found that 61% contained lead, with levels as high as 0.65 parts per million (ppm). Further research by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009 and 2011 analyzed hundreds of lipsticks available on the U.S. market. The 2011 study found lead levels ranging from 0.026 ppm to 7.19 ppm, with an average of 1.11 ppm. In response, the FDA established a recommended limit of 10 ppm for lead in lipsticks and other externally applied cosmetics to ensure consumer safety.
It is important to note that lead is not intentionally added to lipsticks; rather, its presence typically results from contamination in raw materials, particularly mineral-based color additives. Given its environmental ubiquity, eliminating lead entirely from cosmetics is challenging, but most lipsticks on the market fall well below the FDA’s recommended threshold. That said, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that there is “no safe amount of lead exposure.”
References
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2011). “Lead in Lipstick: Expanded Survey of Lipsticks for Lead Content.” Retrieved from [FDA website](https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/potential-contaminants-cosmetics/lead-cosmetics)
– Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. (2007). “A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipsticks.”
