Hot off the Press:
FDA confirms prevalence of Lead in Lipsticks!

We've reported in the past that a number of mainstream brands contain lead as a contaminant in their lipsticks, based on a study conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in 2007. Now a new FDA study finally confirms that conclusion.

According to a Sept 1, 2009 press release by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:
"FDA found lead in all 20 lipsticks it tested, at levels ranging from 0.09 parts per million (ppm) to 3.06 ppm – more than four times higher than the highest lead level of 0.65 reported in the 2007 CSC study. FDA used a new testing method to analyze lipstick and concluded that earlier methods likely underestimated the amount of lead in lipstick."

In fact, the highest measured Lead Level of 3.06ppm is 30 times more than the FDA's own 0.1ppm limit of Lead for candy. Since Lead builds up in the body over time, this really is cause for concern. And given that an average woman consumes 6 or more pounds of lipstick over the course of her lifetime, do we really want to be using lead contaminated lipstick, regardless of the lead level?

Time to stop wearing lipsticks? You don't have to - there are safe choices out there! Lavera Lipsticks come in a variety of vivid colors, are lead-free and as recently as August 2009, was given top marks by the highly critical German consumer advocacy magazine Oeko-Test in its lipstick review. All Lavera products are made with pharmaceutical grade ingredients of the highest purity. This means that common contaminants such as lead will not be present in Lavera products.

In July 2009, we started the Lavera Lipstick Exchange so that consumers could send in their lead contaminated lipsticks and we'll color match with a Lavera Lipstick and send them a PROMO CODE for $10 off any non-clearance lipstick purchase. Due to the popularity of this program, we've extended the Lavera Lipstick Exchange til the end of 2009. Check out our lipsticks and take advantage of our $10 off promotion!