Heavy Metal Determination in Lipstick Products Using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP)

Cosmetics production and use are growing worldwide, yet users are concerned about toxicity and heavy metal pollution. Following nitric acid digestion, the estimated levels of lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), titanium (Ti), iron (Fe), and cobalt (Co), in 6 brands of lipstick (12 samples) obtained in the Saudi market have been computed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Correlation coefficients (R2) varied from 0.9992 to 0.9999 on the calibration curve, indicating good linearity. Except for low-cost specimens, the findings indicate that the concentrations of the metals under investigation are often lower than the acceptable limits of both the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (which revealed the maximum lead levels of 125.30 ppm, exceeding the allowed limit of 10 ppm). Arsenic was discovered in significant concentrations, exceeding the SASO permitted limit. Nickel was found at the FDAs allowable limit; chromium and cobalt were found in variable quantities in the majority of the specimens. Dark-colored lipstick had a greater overall content of heavy metals than light-colored lipstick. Numerous tests on SASO-approved lipsticks were conducted as part of the research. The lower-cost specimens were of lesser quality, failing some SASO tests. All such findings suggest that users should be cautious when buying low lipsticks since heavy metals may build up in the body over time, causing skin problems or diseases like cancer.