1 October 2025, Quezon City. As the Consumer Welfare Month is observed this October and ahead of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week on October 19-25, the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition pushed for the removal from the market of lipsticks contaminated with lead, a hazardous chemical banned in cosmetic products.
The group’s call for law enforcement action followed the issuance of six advisories by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning the public against the purchase and use of imported Qianxiu lipsticks, which are illegally being sold without the required authorization.
The FDA flagged the unauthorized Qianxiu Lipstcik (sic) Hello Kitty #07 (pink canister), #06 (black canister), #03 (black canister), #11 (pink canister), #10 (pink canister) and #02 (black canister) through Advisory Numbers No. 2025-0927, 2025-0928, 2025-0929, 2025-0946, 2025-0947 and 2025-0948 respectively.
Despite the issuance of public health warnings by the FDA, this unauthorized lipstick can still be bought and used by consumers who are unaware of the lead exposure risks.
The said variants of Qianxiu lipsticks were among the 16 lip products reported by the EcoWaste Coalition to the FDA last March 5, 2025 for being contaminated with high levels of lead in defiance of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD).
Sold for P35 each or three for P100, the Qianxiu lipsticks were found laden with up to 43,640 parts per million (ppm) of lead, way above the 20 ppm limit for lead as a heavy metal contaminant under the ACD.
Based on the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screening conducted by the group, Qianxiu #02, #03 and #06 (black canisters) contained 17,690 ppm, 43,640 ppm and 31,520 ppm of lead, while Qianxiu # 07, #10 and #11 (pink canisters) contained 13,610 ppm, 27,390 ppm and 9,640 ppm of lead, respectively.
“We urge consumers not to use Qianxiu and other unauthorized lipsticks from dubious sources and with unknown composition as they may contain banned ingredients like lead, which is a well-documented neurological and reproductive toxicant,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
Qianxiu lipstick has no certificate of product notification or CPN, indicating that the product is being offered for sale without prior quality and safety assessment by the FDA in violation of Republic Act No. 9711, or the FDA Act of 2009, the group pointed out.
According to the report “A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipstick” published by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, “lead builds up in the body over time and lead‐containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, combined with lead in water and other sources, could add up to significant exposure levels. “
“The science indicates there is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead is a neurotoxicant and can be dangerous even at small doses. Medical experts are clear that any level of lead exposure is unhealthy,” the US-based advocacy group emphasized.
Studies have also shown that women’s exposure to lead, a known endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), may result in hormonal changes, menstrual irregularities, reduced fertility, and a host of other health problems, which may also affect babies in the womb.
To prevent and reduce lead exposure through adulterated lipsticks, the EcoWaste Coalition urged consumers to observe the following safety tips:
— Go to the FDA verification portal to check if the product is authorized before making a purchase: https://verification.fda.gov.ph/Home.php
— Avoid buying unauthorized lipsticks; shun imitation products.
— Reject lipsticks with no labeling information.
— Get your lipstick from a licensed dealer and ask for an official receipt.
— Be wary if the price is incredibly low, it probably is a counterfeit.
— Use less lipstick if you are uncertain if it is safe from lead and other contaminants.
— Don’t let children play with lipstick.
Aside from lipsticks, the EcoWaste Coalition this month will draw attention to lead-containing paints and other products contaminated with lead, one of the 10 chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
References:
https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-advisory-no-2025-0948-public-health-warning-against-the-purchase-and-use-of-the-unauthorized-cosmetic-product-qianxiu-lipstcik-hello-kitty-02/
https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-advisory-no-2025-0947-public-health-warning-against-the-purchase-and-use-of-the-unauthorized-cosmetic-product-qianxiu-lipstcik-hello-kitty-10/
https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-advisory-no-2025-0946-public-health-warning-against-the-purchase-and-use-of-the-unauthorized-cosmetic-product-qianxiu-lipstcik-hello-kitty-11/
https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/risk-factors/pregnancy.html
https://www.bcpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Report_A-Poison-Kiss_October_2007.pdf
https://verification.fda.gov.ph/Home.php
