On December 23, 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a draft guideline on the maximum limits for lead in cosmetics and other externally used cosmetics. The draft points out that the recommended lead limit is 10 ppm, and this guide applies to lip cosmetics (such as lipstick, lip gloss, lip line) and external use of cosmetics (such as eye shadow, blush, shampoo and body milk). The draft approval date is February 21, 2017, after which the FDA will prepare the final version of the guide. The guide is likely to help ease consumer concerns.

Lead can not be used as a component, deliberately added to the cosmetics, but because it is a natural heavy metal, it will often appear in the air, water and soil. So it is possible to find very low levels of trace lead in cosmetic products.

At present, the limits of lead in cosmetics exported to the United States are two jurisprudence of the California courts. However, the limits of lead in the two jurisprudence are somewhat different, one that the limit of lead in the lips cosmetic is 5 ppm, the limit for other cosmetics is 10 ppm, and the other indicates that the lead is in the lips Limit of 0.35ppm, other cosmetics 0.5ppm. It is not mandatory to comply with which jurisprudence, by the customer to choose.