Certain lipsticks are said to contain certain carcinogens such as lead, what is the simplest way to test them?

Question

I have received an email that warns me of lipsticks that contained lead, a substance that causes cancer. I use none of them but how can I be sure that my brand has no lead? Is there a simple test that I can do to check if my brand has no lead?

Answer 1

I wouldn't worry about it, its just an urban myth that keeps getting passed around. Pigments that are used in lipsticks and other cosmetics are regulated by the FDA. The toxicity of lead is such common knowledge at this point that any cosmetic product with a significant amount of lead in it would not be allowed on the market.
Every time a cosmetic manufacturer prepares a batch of lipstick or any other product, they are required to send a sample to the FDA for certification. This certification means that the FDA has exhaustively tested the product and it would not contain unsafe levels of any known toxin such as lead. Check out the source page that I listed below if you want some more information, they give a pretty thorough explanation and a some info on lead poisoning.