With the Indian market flooded with lipstick brands, taller the claims, higher the chances of toxic chemicals in them it seems. And Lakme D414 (red) and Ivovi 10 (brown) brand of lipsticks have lead content of 23 parts per million (ppm) and 25ppm respectively, which is higher than the permissible limit, according to the latest issue of Insight, the consumer magazine by Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), Ahmedabad. The limit set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is 20ppm maximum, according to a CERS press statement.
CERS tested 43 varieties of lipsticks covering 19 brands and three varieties of lip gloss from three brands, which had detectable levels of lead content. The lead content in Maybelline 09 Water shine Liquid Diamond lipgloss recorded the highest lead level among lipglosses with 12ppm.
The least amount of lead, 2ppm, was found in two local brands Personi 140 Matte (magenta) and Lips & Tips 110 (orange). "We found that high prices did not guarantee safety against lead in lipsticks. Lipsticks priced at Rs 10 had lead content ranging from 2ppm to 17ppm but those priced above Rs 100 had lead ranging from 11ppm to 23ppm," the release stated.
While 30 other varieties had a lead level higher than 10ppm, 16 varieties of brown lipsticks had lead content between 7ppm and 25ppm and 20 varieties of lipsticks had lead levels ranging from 4ppm to 23ppm. According to CERS, there is no way to really know whether there is lead in the lipstick except laboratory testing and that no level of lead in the body is harmless.
Lead does not break down in the body but is built up over a period of time and it is proven that it can cause learning, language and behavioural problems. The average quantity of lipstick ingested by a woman in her lifetime is 2 kgs and it is also linked to infertility and miscarriage. The study further states that pregnant women and children are vulnerable to lead as it easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain where it can interfere with normal development, CERS claims.
The test also found that mandatory labelling requirement was flouted. The batch batch number was missing in 23 lipsticks and one lipgloss and licence number in 10 lipsticks and 2 lipglosses. Besides, 90 per cent did not carry the date of manufacture or expiry and 35 varieties had no maximum retail price on them. Maybelline, L'Oreal and Chambor, all imported mentioned the list of key ingredients on the packs, the test states.
CERS recommends that the BIS prohibits colours used in cosmetics to contain lead, lower the limit of permissible lead content in colours from 20ppm to 0ppm in cosmetics, make it mandatory for manufacturers to display the list of ingredients, the maximum retail price, date of manufacture and expiry on products below the pack size of 10 gm/10 ml.
Eyetex, Revlon, Elle 18, L'Oreal, Chambor, Streetwear, Lakme, Max Factor, Maybelline, Oriflame, Color Bar, Tian Nuo, ADS, Fendi, Personi, Roop Vella, Lip Care, Ivovi, Lips & Tips, Silora were the brands tested.