Lead in Lipstick and Other Heavy Metals

Consumer safety is a top priority at The Estée Lauder Companies and our products undergo our rigorous safety evaluation process.

Lead and other heavy metals are never added as ingredients to our products. However, these earth elements are ubiquitous and found naturally in air, water and soil. So they may also be found at extremely low, trace levels in some of the raw ingredients used in formulating cosmetics, such as lipsticks.

Our product safety review process includes the evaluation and testing of ingredients and finished products. Our toxicologists and safety experts assess the safety of all ingredients before they can be used in our products. We draw on the latest peer-reviewed scientific research and refer to government-supplied lists of chemicals, which are prohibited or restricted for use in cosmetics wherever we operate. We comply with local and international legal limits on the use of ingredients.

Consumers can be confident that we do not formulate any of our products with lead or heavy metals. However, some earth-sourced ingredients may contain small amounts of these natural elements. Unavoidable traces of natural elements are everywhere. They are in the air we breathe and the food we eat. With modern analytical techniques, even the most miniscule amount of these earth elements may be detected in cosmetic products. Governmental authorities in the United States, Asia and the European Union agree that there is no safety or health risk associated with the presence of trace amounts of such naturally occurring elements in cosmetic products that meet established regulatory standards. Accordingly, there is no cause for concern.

Our Regulatory Affairs team tracks changes in laws and regulations and our scientists monitor the latest scientific research. All products made and sold by The Estée Lauder Companies are safe to use as intended.