6 Lipstick Brands You MUST Stop Buying (And 3 You Can Actually Trust)

A tube of lipstick costs between $1 and $5 to manufacture. You're paying $25. Sometimes $37. But the markup isn't even the worst part. The FDA tested 400 lipsticks sold in the US. Every single one contained lead. A Notre Dame study found PFAS "forever chemicals" in 62% of liquid lipsticks tested. And one brand that built its entire reputation on the word "natural" is now facing class action lawsuits for undisclosed contamination. In this video we break down 6 lipstick brands you should stop buying in 2026, ranked from overpriced to genuinely concerning, then 3 alternatives that actually earned your trust. No sponsors. No affiliate links. Just SEC filings, FDA data, and a calculator. Brands covered: Revlon, Clinique, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury, Maybelline, Burt's Bees, Milani, e.l.f., and ILIA Beauty. SOURCES: FDA Lipstick Lead Study (400 products tested) fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-guidance-documents/supporting-document-recommended-maximum-lead-level-cosmetic-lip-products-and-externally-applied University of Notre Dame PFAS in Cosmetics Study (2021) news.nd.edu/news/use-of-pfas-in-cosmetics-widespread-new-study-finds/ Estée Lauder Companies FY2025 SEC Filings — Investor Relations elcompanies.com/en/investors Revlon Chapter 11 Emergence (Business Wire, May 2023) businesswire.com/news/home/20230502005926/en/Revlon-Emerges-from-Chapter-11-Reorganization Puig Acquires Charlotte Tilbury (WWD) wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/beauty-features/puig-acquires-charlotte-tilbury-1203646919/ Spindel v. Burt's Bees PFAS Class Action classaction.org/news/burts-bees MoCRA — Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/modernization-cosmetics-regulation-act-2022 Campaign for Safe Cosmetics — Lead in Lipstick safecosmetics.org/blog/lead-in-lipstick/ EWG — PFAS in Personal Care Products ewg.org/news-insights/news/fda-reports-over-50-pfas-ingredients-intentionally-added-1700-personal-care-products Beauty Pie — Factory Cost Transparency beautypie.com ⚠️ DISCLAIMER WE are not a doctor. Not a lawyer. Everything in this video is sourced from active federal court filings, peer-reviewed research, and published ingredient databases, or open sourced news outlets. Case numbers are provided and verify everything yourself. #lipstick #makeup #makeupexposed #beautyscam #cosmeticsexposed #lipstickdupes #drugstoremakeup #makeuptok #beautyindustry #makeupreview #pfas #leadinlipstick #burtsbees #clinique #mac #charlottetilbury #maybelline #milani #elfcosmetics #iliabeauty #makeupdupe #beautyonabudget #smartshopping #consumerreport