The usual whitening agent in cosmetics of the period, lead acetate, is not.

ECONOMIST: The Romans, too, had sophisticated cosmetics

"There's lead acetate in hair dyes, lead in lipsticks, formaldehyde and 1, 4-dioxane in baby shampoos and other shampoos, " said Lisa Archer, co-founder and former director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and current director for the environmental group Friends of the Earth.

CNN: Consumer advocates lead push for 'green' cosmetics