Lead in lipstick, carcinogenic mascara -- it's hard not to ignore these headlines, and it's harder still to avoid the fact that the beauty products we use every day are loaded with nearly unpronounceable chemicals. But are those chemicals really dangerous? The debate rages on.

On one side, we have the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group, who say that women use up to 200 chemicals before they walk out the door every morning. These chemicals, they say, are scientifically linked to birth defects, cancer, and infertility and include things like parabens, petrochemicals, and phtalates. On the other side, we have product manufacturers who say that these claims have been circulating for years, that they are unfounded, and that the FDA sees no reason to address them again now.

I'm not sure where the truth really lies on this issue, but I do think that every time we can avoid using a chemical, it's a good thing. If you're concerned about the issue of chemicals in beauty products, read this article and follow some of their suggestions for reducing your exposure.

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The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a consumer group, recently conducted testing on 33 popular lipstick brands and found that a surprising 61% contained detectable levels of lead. About 1/3 of the lipsticks exceeded the allowable level of lead in candy. While these may seem like relatively small amounts of lead, you do apply lipstick to your mouth where some of it inevitably gets ingested.

Makeup manufacturers are striking back, saying their products pass numerous inspections and meet federal standards. In addition, the FDA says that they've been aware of the presence of lead in lipstick and have no plans to address the issue.

I'm not sure, at this point, what this finding means, but I do think it's important for consumers to be informed about what's inside the products they are using. Read more about the issue at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website.

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