EcoWaste Coalition Sounds Alarm: Toxic Lipsticks With Deadly Levels of Lead Still Sold in Philippine Markets

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QUEZON CITY, Philippines — October 1, 2025. As October marks Consumer Welfare Month and the world prepares for International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week on October 19–25, an urgent cry for action reverberates across the Philippines: the EcoWaste Coalition has sounded the alarm against dangerously contaminated lipsticks still circulating in stores and online platforms, posing grave risks to consumers—particularly women and children.

The warning comes on the heels of six official advisories issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), flagging imported Qianxiu lipsticks that are being sold without authorization and without any guarantee of safety. These lipsticks, dressed up in cute pink and sleek black canisters, conceal a horrifying secret: lead levels thousands of times higher than what is legally allowed.

The Poison in a Tube of Lipstick

The FDA’s alerts covered the following unauthorized variants:

Qianxiu Hello Kitty #07 (pink canister)

Qianxiu Hello Kitty #06 (black canister)

Qianxiu Hello Kitty #03 (black canister)

Qianxiu Hello Kitty #11 (pink canister)

Qianxiu Hello Kitty #10 (pink canister)

Qianxiu Hello Kitty #02 (black canister)

Behind their playful packaging and dirt-cheap prices—₱35 each, or three for ₱100—lie staggering concentrations of lead. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screenings conducted by EcoWaste revealed lead content as high as 43,640 parts per million (ppm). To put that in perspective, the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) caps lead contamination in cosmetics at just 20 ppm.

Qianxiu #03 (black) — 43,640 ppm

Qianxiu #06 (black) — 31,520 ppm

Qianxiu #02 (black) — 17,690 ppm

Qianxiu #10 (pink) — 27,390 ppm

Qianxiu #07 (pink) — 13,610 ppm

Qianxiu #11 (pink) — 9,640 ppm

These findings are not mere technical violations—they are public health time bombs.

“A Well-Documented Poison”

“Consumers must not treat lipstick as harmless color on the lips,” warned Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition. “Lead is a well-documented neurological and reproductive toxicant. We urge consumers to stop using Qianxiu and other unauthorized lipsticks from dubious sources, and we call on regulators to remove these toxic products from the market immediately.”

The lipsticks, which have no Certificate of Product Notification (CPN), are being sold illegally in violation of the FDA Act of 2009 (RA 9711). Without a CPN, no assessment has been conducted on their quality or safety—placing consumers directly in harm’s way.

The Hidden Dangers of Lead

According to the report “A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipstick” by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, lead accumulates in the body over time. A lipstick worn daily—applied and re-applied multiple times—could silently elevate exposure levels, especially when combined with other sources of lead such as contaminated water or dust.

Medical experts agree on one chilling truth: there is no safe level of lead exposure. Even minuscule doses can impair brain development, disrupt hormones, and cause lasting harm to reproductive health.

Women exposed to lead may experience menstrual irregularities, hormonal changes, reduced fertility, and complications during pregnancy. The toxin does not stop at the mother—it crosses into the womb, threatening the health of unborn children.

Protecting Consumers: What You Can Do

To prevent and reduce lead exposure, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the public to take these life-saving precautions:

Verify before you buy: Check the FDA’s verification portal: https://verification.fda.gov.ph/Home.php

Avoid unauthorized or imitation brands—especially those without labels.

Purchase only from licensed dealers and always request an official receipt.

Beware of unbelievably low prices—if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Limit lipstick use if you are uncertain of its safety.

Keep lipsticks away from children.

Beyond Lipsticks: A Wider Battle Against Lead

The fight doesn’t end with cosmetics. This October, EcoWaste will also spotlight lead in paints and consumer goods, echoing the World Health Organization’s stance that lead is among the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern.

The battle is not simply about unsafe beauty products. It is about a system that must protect consumers—especially women and children—from toxic exposure in everyday life.

As International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week approaches, the question looms large: Will authorities finally clamp down on these poisonous products before more lives are put at risk?

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