FDA warns users vs toxic lipstick

See their true colors.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers against buying lipstick products that are not FDA-notified as these may contain high levels of lead and other heavy metals.

In an advisory, the FDA warned the public against 13 “unnotified” lipstick products from China or imitations of original products being sold by street vendors and outlets in the country.

It also asked the Bureau of Customs to prevent the release of these foreign products into the local market.

“The public is warned against buying lipstick that is not notified with the FDA. These products may contain high levels of heavy metals, especially lead,” the FDA said. A notified item essentially is a certified product.

“All consumers are advised to buy only FDA-notified cosmetic products in the market,” it added.

The 13 questionable lipstick products are Baolishi No. 8, Baolishi No. 20 (green), Baolishi No. 20 (yellow), Baolishi No. 25, Baolishi No. 37, Miss Beauty No. 6, Miss Beauty Vitamin C No. 11, Shijing No. 39, Ling Mei No. 12, Heng Fang No. 8, Popa Italy 3 in 1, L’Oreal No. 209 and Luoys Paris No. 05.

“Heavy metals are inherently present in pigments (colorants) and in some raw materials that are used to produce lipstick. This is due to natural contamination from the environment, which [is] unavoidable,” the FDA said.

“Thus, the FDA enforces strict compliance with the requirements of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) for cosmetic products to ensure that possible contaminants are within the allowable limits set by the FDA,” it said.

“Lead is a proven toxicant that accumulates in the body through constant exposure and absorption over a prolonged period. Health problems through chronic ingestion of high levels of lead in lipstick may manifest as neurologic, hematologic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal problems,” the agency said.

It said lead toxicant in adults had been linked to high blood pressure, joint pain, poor memory and concentration problems.

The public can check if a cosmetic product is registered through the FDA website, www.fda.gov.ph.

Those reporting unnotified cosmetic products may e-mail the agency via [email protected].