Group warns against imitation lipstick

EcoWaste Coalition puts on display the 27 lipsticks it bought from Divisoria in Manila. PHOTO COURTESY OF ECOWASTE COALITION

Citing a high-level of lead content, an environmental group warned lipstick shoppers on Tuesday against buying imitation lipstick sold in Divisoria, in Manila.

The EcoWaste Coalition said that out of 27 lipsticks that they bought in Divisoria, 11 of them were found to contain lead content beyond the standards of Asean Cosmetic Directive.

“The results of our investigation confirm that lead is lurking in some fake MAC lipsticks, posing health risks to consumers, especially to women,” EcoWaste’s Chemical Safety Campaigner Thony Dizon said in a statement.

“Consumers who go to Divisoria and other bargain hubs to get high-end imitation beauty products may actually be buying poison cosmetics,” he warned.

According to Dizon, the following fake MAC products were contaminated by high levels of lead: Mariah Carey #01, Zac Posen Rudy Woo #12, Zac Posen Kinda Sexy #14, Zac Posen Girl About Town #08, High Society, Nouvelle Vogue, and Fireworks #A16.

He noted that the products contained at least 55 parts per million (ppm), 35 ppm above from the maximum limit set by Asean Cosmetic Directive.

Aside from this, Dizon said that two samples of lipsticks bought from Divisoria were also found to have traces of mercury. /cbb

The 11 counterfeit lipsticks found to have high levels of lead are arranged on a table after these were tested. PHOTO COURTESY OF ECOWASTE COALITION