Heavy metals found in many cosmetics... None of which are listed on their labels

[jehosoba84]

 

Heavy Metals Found in Many Cosmetics: Not Listed on Labels

 

By Sarah B. Weir, Yahoo! blogger | Green - 13 minutes ago

 

Is your make-up safe? In light of recent news that the FDA found out of 400 brands of lipstick tested, all contain lead, Yahoo! Shine took a look at other products containing potentially hazardous ingredients.Historically, women have risked their health for beauty by using cosmetics laden with poisons. It's reported that Queen Elizabeth's face became so disfigured from lead-contaminated make-up, she had all the mirrors in her palace removed. In 18th century France, courtesans applied vermilion rouge, which contained sulfur and mercury, and suffered damage to their teeth, livers, and nervous systems as a result. While the levels are much lower, according to a 2011 report by Environmental Defense, an Ontario based research group, dangerous heavy metals still lurk in lip gloss, mascara, foundation, blush, eye shadow, and eyeliner.

 

Related: Lead In Lipstick, 10 Worst Brands, Better Alternatives

 

The researchers tested a total of 49 common products selected from the cosmetic bags of six average Canadian women. They found that every product contained at least one of seven heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, lead, nickel, beryllium, thallium, and selenium. Lead, a known neurotoxin, showed up in 96% of the items. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that lead exposure is not safe at any level. Heavy metals are considered a by-product of manufacturing and it's worth noting that none were listed in the ingredients lists on the cosmetics' labels.

 

There is scientific debate about safe levels of heavy metals in the body. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which pushed for the FDAs recent scrutiny of lipstick, points out that, "Individual exposures to these metals in small amounts are unlikely to cause harm, but heavy metals can build up in the body over time and may increase risk for a variety of health problems." The U.S. Department of Labor links arsenic to stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate.

 

The report notes that the highest levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead overall were found in lip gloss, which can be ingested orally. Of the items tested, Benefit Benetint lip gloss contained the highest level of lead at 110 parts per millions (ppm), which is more than 10 times higher than the limit set by the Health Canada Draft Guidance on Heavy Metal Impurities in Cosmetics.

Other products found to have the highest levels of impurities were:

Clinique Stay True Makeup foundation (Stay Ivory) - arsenic, cadmium, beryllium, lead, nickel, thallium

Sephora Sculpting Powder Trio eye shadow (Brown and Pink) - beryllium, lead, nickel, thallium

MAC Sheerton Shimmer Blush (Springsheen) - beryllium, lead, nickel, thallium

L'Oreal Bare Naturale mascara (Black/Brown) - arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel, thallium

Cover Girl Perfect Point Plus eyeliner (Black Onyx) - beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel

Almay Intense i-color Trio eye color (Trio for Blues, Brown and Dark Grey) - beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel, selenium

Benefit Benetint Pocket Pal (Red Tint and Clear Gloss) - arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel, selenium, thallium

Cost is no indicator that a product contains lower levels of heavy metals. Erin Charter, one of the women whose cosmetics were tested, commented, "The product [Benefit Benetint lip gloss] I spend the most money on, because I thought it was better for me, ended up being the worst out of anything tested!"

 

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics supports passage of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011, which was designed to give the FDA authority to ensure that personal care products are free of harmful ingredients. It also mandates that contaminants, such as heavy metals, be fully disclosed. In the meantime, the Environmental Working Group has a user-friendly searchable database that rates the safety of 1000s of cosmetics and other personal care products.

Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside huh? This shouldnt be too surprising for most of us, but have any of you reduced the amount of makeup you wear or the brands you buy to limit your exposure? Or do you do as the article says and sacrifice beauty for health?

[isell_avon]

BUMP!

[silvercrow]

I've known this for years.. i get bored and research stuff plus i had a friend who sold avon and mary kay..

[jehosoba84]

 

Quoting silvercrow:

I've known this for years.. i get bored and research stuff plus i had a friend who sold avon and mary kay..

 I have too, but silly me, I thought that once it came out that the cosmetic companies would be made to remove all of these proven to be harmful metals. The FDA fails us miserably in so many ways.   I havent really tried to check up on it after it all came out becasue I don't really wear makeup.

[silvercrow]

i didnt mean it in my normal snarky way sorry if it came across like that i didnt mean it this time... I dont wear a lot either anymore... Governemnt has been failing people for years longer then people even realize it or care to admit it.. i have learned sometimes the only person who looks out for you is you kwim

[.Bubbles.]

I really thought they would start working to remove these materials from make up.  Crazy.

[jehosoba84]

 

Quoting silvercrow:

i didnt mean it in my normal snarky way sorry if it came across like that i didnt mean it this time... I dont wear a lot either anymore... Governemnt has been failing people for years longer then people even realize it or care to admit it.. i have learned sometimes the only person who looks out for you is you kwim

 I didn't take it as snarky : )

[MomofNikki2010]

I have a major chemical phobia. I wear makeup one day a week and try to use products the EWG lists as reasonably safe.

[cjsbmom]

When I am not out officially representing a client for my job, I don't even wear make up. So I have drastically cut down how often I have it on my face. And even when I do wear it, I don't wear foundation at all. At a bare minimun, I use under eye concealer to hide my dark circles, and a little bit of pressed powder. I'll finish off with some blush, but that's it. I don't wear lipstick, and I don't do eyeliner, mascara or even eye shadow.

[moneysaver6]

I haven't worn makeup regularly in years.

ETA:  There have been a small handful of occasions where I have worn make-up.  We're talking once or twice a year on average. 

[TruthSeeker.]

 Oh no!! Not my Sephora make up! I hope it's not in the bare minerals foundation!