my mother used to insist I wear lipstick

She always acted like I was somehow naked if I left the house without any lipstick on (this was after I hit a certain age -- some time in high school, IIRC).

Check this out:

http://www.safecosmetics.org/your_health/poisonkiss.cfm

Maybe it was the lead in her lipstick that contributed to her craziness. Contributes to her craziness, I should say, since I have no reason to believe there's been a change in the direction of sanity.

If you download the .pdf of the report, you will discover that the lab they used is a very reputable one, using appropriate technology.

Quite shocking, all 'round.