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Cosmetic industry kisses off claim that lead makes some red lipsticks unsafe
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The latest: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday that it would look into claims that some red lipsticks from the brands L'Oreal and Cover Girl contain potentially dangerous levels of lead. Similar claims in the past have not been confirmed, the FDA said.
Analysis finds: The advocacy group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said 20, or a third of the 33 red lipsticks examined by an independent lab, contained a level of lead exceeding 0.1 parts per million -- the FDA's limit for lead in candy. The FDA does not set a limit for lead in lipstick. Products with more than 0.1 part per million of lead included L'Oreal's Colour Riche True Red, Cover Girl's Incredifull Lipcolor Maximum Red and Maybelline's Moisture Extreme Cocoa Plum. The lead tests were conducted last month on red lipsticks bought in Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Hartford, Conn.
"These concerns have not generally been supported by the FDA's own analysis of products on the market. In the present case, we are looking into the specific details of the issues raised," said Stephanie Kwisnek, an FDA spokeswoman. She also told the San Francisco Chronicle that the FDA has no plans to act in response to this report.
Smacking their lips: The trade group that represents lipstick manufacturers said the amounts of lead found aren't enough to pose a danger. "These levels, considering the products and how they're consumed, really don't present a concern," said John Bailey, executive vice president for science at the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, a Washington group whose members include L'Oreal, which makes Maybelline, and P&G, which makes the Cover Girl brand.
Lead can be in water and other ingredients used in lipsticks and aren't intentionally introduced in the products, Bailey said.
Disclaimer: L'Oreal stands behind the products it sells, according to a company statement, as does P&G, company spokeswoman Anitra Marsh said.
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