The Lead Lipstick Scare
- November 1st, 2007
- View Comments (3)
Lately there has been a lot of media hype about lead in lipsticks. There are several emails in circulation regarding this issue. MK Rules has an excellent and informative article on her site. Thanks, MK Rules! 
I received the emails claiming Mary Kay lipstick has zero lead in it. Not wanting to give out any incorrect info, I called Mary Kay, Inc. and asked about it. Here is what they told me:
- MKC is aware of the recent news media surrounding this topic over the past few weeks.
- Lead is a natural ingredient found everywhere–including in drinking water and the air. It is possible there is lead content in MK lipstick, however, there are acceptable amounts.
- Mary Kay hires toxicologists to evaluate the lead levels in its products and to ensure they are in compliance with FDA and EPA guidelines.
- Currently, MK Lipsticks exceed the FDA guidelines for lead content; meaning the levels fall far below the allowable content (lead content is very low in MK lipstick and can be deemed safe).
- When speaking with your customers, assure them that Mary Kay, Inc. holds its customers’ health and safety in high regard and do all things possible to provide a safe product to the public.
I feel much more confident after speaking to the company and will use this information when fielding questions from my customers. Here are some other helpful links about this topic:
http://www.safecosmetics.org/newsroom/gma_10_12_07.cfm
http://www.safecosmetics.org/newsroom/ap_10_12_07.cfm
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/12/news/companies/lipstick_lead/
The best advice I can give to anyone with questions or concerns is for Consultants to call the company and for customers to call 1-800-MARY KAY. Never hesitate to refer a customer to 1-800-MARY KAY. They DO listen to our customers!
Tags: Communication, Corporate, Cosmetics, Customer Service, FDA, Ingredients, Know Your Product, Lead Risks, Lipstick, Media Hype, NaBloPoMo, Products, Rumors, Urban Legends
Shades of Pink
Pink Biz
warzmondu
Vanessa
Stumble It!
I guess its good I don’t wear makeup! I don’t think any levels of lead are safe. If I did wear makeup I would be concerned. It all boils down to choice. If you are worried about MK’s lipstick call and find out or don’t use it. Not a big deal.
To me all this media hype over lead and things are scare tactics. Around here it is MRSA. They are closing down schools because of it. The one thing that will combat these scare tactics is common sense. Use it well and use it often!
Excellent points, marykaylady! I totally agree. My husband said the media gets tired of reporting on terrorism and the war so they turn to lead in makeup as an alternative. He said if we made it through the 1970’s, we should be OK in the 21st century.
The media is alarmist. If they aren’t scaring people they aren’t working, I guess. Oh, and MRSA is an issue here, too. I don’t think they’ve closed any schools, but every office at my job has been mandated to have Purell available in all work areas.
Oh! Yea, I did read on one of those sites that “no lead amount is a good amount.” Lead is not a safe element. It does, however, occur naturally and is everywhere. It’s in drinking water and the air we breathe. I’m not sure we can really avoid it. The only thing we can do is expose ourselves to it as little as possible. I don’t wear lipstick every day. I’m also not going to drive myself crazy worrying about the lead content in my lipstick. I just want to provide information for those who are interested. I’m comfortable in the information I was provided with when I called Mary Kay, Inc.