Monday, October 15, 2007

My Aunt Charlotte used to ask me at every family gathering "So Judy, ven (this said in Hungarian accent) are you going to start vearing lipstick?" Good thing that I was a hippie back then who never really figured out how to talk and wear lipstick at the same time given the latest scoop on lip paint.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that the majority of brand-name red lipsticks tested had detectable amounts of lead. If you chew off your lipstick--and how else does it disappear and require re-application throughout the day?--think of all that lead consumed over a lipsticked lifetime? Maybe that's why Aunt Charlotte, while staying tall and strong well into her 80s, completely lost her marbles by the end of the line.

Speaking of lead and the life you lead, I noticed in this morning's paper that thrift stores have seen a huge jump in toy donations of the banished variety. If you can't let your kid keep it, at least you can take it as a tax deduction.

4 comments:

rlbates said...

I'm like you, never have worn much lip stick. Now lip balm is a different matter.

And what a shame that anyone would think that a toy was okay for someone else's child when it's not okay for theirs.

JeanMac said...

Been reading lots about lipstick and other cosmetics lately. Luckily I'm not into that except for very special occasions:) Feel badly about the toy thing - no conscience, I guess?

Mauigirl said...

Oh great, now what else can be bad for you? Without lipstick I look like a cadaver. I do have some lipsticks from The Body Shop which I like, so perhaps I'll banish the rest of them and only buy Body Shop from now on. I am making an assumption that they would be "pure" and free of lead but who knows...

I agree with the two previous comments about the toys - it's like taking your melamine-tainted dog food and giving it to the local animal shelter! If you wouldn't give these toys to your own kids, why would you foist them on poor kids? That is terrible.

Anonymous said...

I must say I am a lipstick lover, mainly for the moisture and shine, not the heavy kind like Bette Davis. I may run to the grocery without a trace of makeup...but I have my lipstick on ;-)

I think parents will be scrambling this Christmas to find safe toys or those made in the good ole USA!