Top of the range lipsticks contain high levels of lead

According to the American consumer group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, tests on 33 brand-name lipsticks, some of them expensive luxury brands, have found that 61 percent of them contained detectable levels of lead.

The recently conducted tests revealed levels of lead ranging from 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million and one-third of the tested lipsticks exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 0.1 ppm limit for lead in confectionary.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics says the FDA has not set a limit for lead in lipstick.

The worse offenders were the more expensive brands which had higher levels than cheaper brands.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of public health, environmental and women's groups says lipstick, like candy, is ingested and can cause learning, language and behavioral problems such as poor school performance and increased aggression.

The group says pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, and lead has also been linked to infertility and miscarriage.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics says it is possible to make lipsticks without lead, and all companies should be doing that.

Experts say lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times every day can result in significant exposure.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association trade group says that lead is a naturally occurring element that was not intentionally added to cosmetics.

Of the top brands testing positive for lead were L'Oreal Colour Riche "True Red" with 0.65 ppm, L'Oreal Colour Riche "Classic Wine" with 0.58 ppm, Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red" with 0.56 ppm and Dior Addict "Positive Red" with 0.21 ppm.