What are the harmful effects of lead in cosmetics?

With the ability to create grip and smoothness for the skin, lead has been added to the composition of cosmetics. However, these temporary benefits can have long-term consequences.

Lead is a heavy metal that is toxic to human health. So why is there lead in cosmetics? With the ability to increase skin adhesion and smoothness immediately, this substance is applied to most cosmetics.
Actually, all lipsticks contain lead, but many studies show that this toxic metal is present in lipsticks more than is commonly thought to increase adhesion. The more lead a lipstick has, the longer it lasts
In December 2016, the FDA issued draft guidance to the industry on lead as an impurity in cosmetic lip products such as lipsticks and other cosmetic products. such as: eyeshadow, blush, compact powder, shampoo and body cream. More than 99% of cosmetics surveyed contained lead levels of less than 10 ppm.

In fact, now most of the lead in cosmetics is over the permissible limit many times such as makeup powder, primer, foundation, lipstick...
Harmful effects of lead on cosmetics will not be visible. right away. After a process of accumulation in the body, this substance causes many diseases. Initially, the lead in cosmetics will help consumers get a bright white face and clear tone. But stop using for a while, the skin will become dark, freckles, enlarged pores, melasma, premature aging,...
In many cases, the patient will appear symptoms such as: : headache, weight loss, insomnia, body weakness ...
In addition, lead in cosmetics also causes a number of health risks such as:
Poisoning the nervous system causing learning impairment , language, behaviour,.. Reduced fertility in both men and women Hormonal changes and menstrual irregularities Delayed onset of puberty in girls and development of testes in boys.

According to experts, you can completely identify the lead content in cosmetics by water. Because skin and water molecules have many similarities. The way to check is as follows:
Put a little cosmetic in use, grind or powder it into a cup of water. Stir well for about 20 seconds Then observe what happens. If chalk or cream sticks to the sides of the cup, it means the cosmetic contains mineral oil ingredients. Long-term use may increase the risk of premature aging. If the chalk or cream settles to the bottom of the cup, it shows the appearance of heavy metals. If the chalk or cream is dissolved in water, you can rest assured that it is safe to use. In summary, to avoid the consequences caused by lead, consumers should be cautious when choosing cosmetics. Because lead is not shown on ingredient labels, it is found in many lipsticks from affordable to high-end. At the same time, limit the application of lipstick many times a day. On the other hand, children are more susceptible to the effects of lead, so keep lipsticks and cosmetics away from them.
For more knowledge about beauty and health care, customers can refer to the website of Vinmec International General Hospital. All information is always updated regularly by experts and doctors.

Reference source: fda.gov - safecosmetics.org