Lead in Lipstick: Should You Actually Worry?

You may have heard that some lipsticks contain traces of lead. That can sound alarming, especially because lipstick goes directly on your lips.

The good news is that the amount of lead found in lipstick is usually very small. For most women, lipstick is unlikely to be a major source of lead exposure.

Still, it makes sense to understand what the numbers actually mean and how to choose products more carefully.

In this post, you’ll learn how exposure to lead in lipstick is measured, whether the levels are truly concerning, and simple ways to reduce exposure without becoming overwhelmed.

Why Is Lead In Lipstick A Concern?

Lead is concerning because research links it to several health effects. Lead exposure has been associated with:

• building up in the body over time (source)
• effects on the central nervous system (source)
• developmental harm in children (source)
• infertility concerns (source)
• and possible cancer risk (source and source).

This explains the worry when testing found traces of lead in some lipsticks in 2011.

The issue gained national attention when the FDA released testing results for 400 lipsticks.

Lipsticks such as Maybelline and L’Oreal tested as high as 7.19 parts per million (ppm) and 7.0 ppm.

Even so, the FDA stated that these levels of lead did not pose a health risk.

So why did the FDA say that?

The answer comes down to exposure amount.

What Levels Of Lead Are Allowed In Lipstick?

The FDA recommends a maximum lead level of 10 ppm in lipstick (source).

This means the lipsticks tested at 7 ppm would still meet FDA guidance.

On the other hand, California Proposition 65 takes a stricter approach proposing that lipsticks containing 5 ppm or more should carry a warning label.

This recommendation is based on California’s Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) for reproductive toxicity, which is 0.5 micrograms of lead per day. This stricter limit is useful because it gives us a practical benchmark for understanding real-world exposure.

How Much Lead Exposure Comes From Lipstick?

This is the part many headlines leave out.

Exposure depends not only on the amount of lead in the product, but also on how much lipstick you actually use.

According to a study of more than 300 women:

• the average lipstick application used only 0.005 grams of product
• only 12% of women used 0.02 grams or more per application

In other words, most women use a very small amount of lipstick each day.

Some apply one light coat. Others apply several coats and reapply often throughout the day.

That difference matters when calculating exposure.

Real-Life Lipstick Use Calculations

Before we do the math, here’s a simple explanation: ppm means “parts per million.” It represents a very tiny amount.

For example, 7 ppm equals 7 micrograms of lead per gram of lipstick.

Let’s use the higher 7 ppm number found in some lipsticks in the FDA report and calculate an extreme use scenario.

Heavy lipstick use:

• 0.02 grams per application
• 6 applications per day

Math:

• 0.02 g × 6 = 0.12 grams of lipstick per day
• 0.12 g × 7 mcg/g = 0.84 micrograms of lead per day

This amount goes above California’s strict benchmark of 0.5 micrograms per day.

But remember – this assumes unusually heavy lipstick use and a relatively high lead level.

Now let’s look at a more typical scenario.

Average lipstick use:

• 0.005 grams per application
• 3 applications per day

Math:

• 0.005 g × 3 = 0.015 grams per day
• 0.015 g × 7 mcg/g = 0.1 micrograms of lead per day

This amount is well below California’s limit of 0.5 micrograms per day.

Should You Be Concerned About Lead In Lipstick?

It’s reasonable to care about heavy metals in cosmetics. At the same time, it’s important to keep the numbers in perspective.

The 7 ppm level used in our calculations was already on the high end.

In fact, testing by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics of 33 lipstick samples found:

• 13 lipsticks had no detectable lead at all
• 9 samples contained less than 0.1 ppm
• 11 lipsticks ranged from 0.1 to 0.65 ppm, which is still far below 7 ppm.

Also, in my own experience reviewing product test reports for over a decade, I have not seen lipstick lead levels above 1 ppm.

So, while lead contamination is not something you want, lipstick is unlikely to be a major source of exposure for most women.

Sometimes online discussions compare lipstick lead levels to baby food lead limits.

I believe this comparison is misleading because:

• First, the proposed safety level for baby food is 5 ppb (parts per billion) which equals 0.005 ppm (parts per million).
• Second, babies consume large amounts of food every day (around 500 grams), while lipstick is used in tiny amounts.

This difference matters.

How To Reduce Exposure To Lead In Lipstick

If you want to be more careful about heavy metals in makeup, there are simple ways to lower your exposure without becoming overwhelmed.

You can:

• apply lipstick less often
• use lighter coats
• wipe lipstick off before eating or drinking
• choose products from companies with strong manufacturing standards that test for heavy metals

Small changes can reduce exposure while still allowing you to enjoy the products you love.

Bottom Line: What To Do About Lead In Lipstick?

Lead in lipstick is not ideal, but the actual exposure from lipstick appears to be very small for most women because the amount used each day is tiny.

That does not mean you should ignore product quality. It simply means the issue is more nuanced than many headlines make it sound.

Instead of becoming fearful, focus on practical steps like choosing lipstick from reputable brands and reducing exposure where it reasonably makes sense.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is to make calmer, more grounded decisions about the products you use every day.

And my blog post Heavy Metals in Food and Cosmetics: What Actually Matters will help you with that.