AUSTIN — Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into several feminine care and cosmetic product manufacturers to determine whether companies misled consumers about the presence of toxic chemicals in their products, according to a release from the Office of the Attorney General.
The office said it is investigating a number of feminine care and cosmetic brands, including lip balm, lipstick, and other lip product manufacturers, as part of an industry-wide effort focused on potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
According to the release, lip products are designed and marketed for multiple daily applications, and the office cited reports indicating many lip products may contain ingredients such as titanium dioxide and other petroleum-based materials. The release states these products are applied to sensitive dermal tissue, which the office says has significantly higher absorption capacity and permeability than other areas of skin, and cited studies showing as many as 3,000 particles of microplastics detected per application, along with synthetic dyes the office says have not been adequately studied for long-term health effects. The release also noted that some lip product brands partner with well-known food brands, which the office said could mislead consumers into believing the products are safe to ingest.
The Office of the Attorney General also launched a separate industry-wide investigation into manufacturers and sellers of feminine care products following reports that some products may contain heavy metals. The release cited a 2024 study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, which the office said detected measurable concentrations of all 16 heavy metals tested, including lead, cadmium, and arsenic, in more than 30 tampon products across 14 brands. The release states that public health authorities have consistently maintained there is no known safe level of lead exposure.
According to the release, the investigation also extends to newer “clean” and “non-toxic” women’s brands, including LOLA and L., which the office said market themselves as health-conscious alternatives, though the release states that many of the safety and ingredient claims tied to these products have not been independently verified. As part of the investigation, the Office of the Attorney General has issued Civil Investigative Demands to Tampax, Kotex, L., and LOLA.
Paxton, in a statement included in the release, said he would continue working to stop companies he says illegally include toxic heavy metals and dangerous chemicals in their products, adding that his office will investigate any company he believes has misled consumers or harmed the health of Texans.
The release states the investigations will examine whether consumers were misled regarding the safety, quality, or chemical composition of the products in question. Findings related to specific companies named in the investigation, including Tampax, Kotex, L., LOLA, and any cosmetic manufacturers, remain allegations at this stage and have not been proven in court.
