Lipstick recently joined backpacks and Chinese-manufactured kid's toys on the growing list of Things That Contain Lead when a consumer rights group found that more than 60% of the popular brands of red lipstick tested had detectable levels of lead. One third had levels exceeding the FDA's limit for lead in candy.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the group behind the testing, found that some less expensive brands it had tested, such as Revlon, had no detectable levels of lead, while the more expensive Dior Addict brand had higher levels than some other brands. (Guess which brand I'm having my girl switch to.)

On the other side, L'Oreal said in a statement that their lipstick is in full compliance with FDA regs, and Proctor & Gamble said the quantity of lead someone may be exposed to from lipstick "is hundreds of times less than the amount that she would get from eating, breathing and drinking water."

Not that I think any of you guys are wearing lipstick regularly (unless you're the lead singer in an alt rock band), but the girls you're kissing are. Which means you could be ingesting it along with them. And according to Dr. Mark Mitchell, president of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice, "Lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels. The latest studies show there is no safe level of lead exposure."

So let your ladies know. And be aware next time you go in for that kiss.